Algiers: religious affairs director goes to jail for “getting a gift”

Religious affairs director in the province of Algiers Moussa Abdelaoui was put in temporary prison on Monday as he was caught with hard currency he got from an employee. Security forces considered the money as a “bribe,” Echorouk has learnt.

The director is accused of receiving a gift illegally. He was heard by the judge and denied that the money would be a bribe. He said he needed the money for his trip to Qatar which was planned on the day after he had been caught. He was supposed to attend Doha’s Tenth Conference in religions dialogue untitled ‘Successful Experiences in Religions Dialogue.’

According to sources, security forces put the suspect’s car back to his work office and asked for his whole file.

Abdelaoui is an accredited prayer caller in the Big Mosque in Algiers and a mosque manager in Casbah in the capital. He has held his position for 15 years.