Chakib Khelil file under perusal of Justice Minister Tayeb Louh

As soon as he was appointed new Justice Minister following last Wednesday’s sweeping cabinet reshuffle conducted by President Abdellaziz Bouteflika, Mr Tayeb Louh ordered to be conveyed forthwith the file of former energy and mines minister, Chakib Khelil who is wanted by Algerian justice on charges of widespread corruption and misappropriation of public funds estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Sources close to the Justice Ministry told Echorouk that former Justice Minister Charfi had been blamed by the Trade Union of the relevant sector of having covertly dragged his feet in ensuring the close examining and follow-up of the Chakib Khelil burning file.

The newly-nominated Justice Minister is keen to unravel all the shady intricacies surrounding this affair and see to it that wanted Chakib Khelil, who  is now residing in the United States, was brought to appear before Algerian justice as every other defendant accused of wrongdoing and barring any preferential treatment.

In another context, Mr Tayeb Louh expressed his utter resolve to carry through the reform process underway in the justice sector as part of the raft of rejuvenating reforms pertaining notably to training and the enshrining of a bona fide independent judiciary initiated by the national commission on the reform of justice set up by President Abdellaziz Bouteflika way back in 1999.