Algerian lawyers: Flexible law encourages corruption

The lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi has yesterday criticised in a declaration to Echouorouk the outcomes of the law against corruption in force since 2006.

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  He considers that though it has contributed to shed light on series of financial scandals that rocked various companies like Sontrach, Khelifa bank and the east- west motorway, it puts on the same footing someone who steals 10 thousand Dinras and those who dilapidate the whole country’s resources.

   

  Supporting Bouchachi’s view, the professor khaled Berghel has indicated that the law has “rather contributed to make public the phenomenon instead of eradicating it”.

   

  “ We were hardly hearing about cases of corruption before 2006, but after this date the phenomenon has become widespread and common… Media report thousand of billions embezzled in public companies” , he said.

   

  The professor has indicated that the phenomenon has taken alarming proportion because of the cancellation of the article 119 that required death penalty for the wrongdoers. A manager had to think twice before being tempted by any form misdemeanour, he added.