Finance ministry Secretary General: Khalifa Bank report mysteriously disappeared

Secretary General at the finance ministry Lakehal Abdlelkrim Tuesday told a judge in a court in Blida a report about Khalifa Bank sent by the Algeria Bank’s governor to the finance minister disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

The Secretary General said the report disappeared and the newly appointed minister at that time contacted the Algeria Bank’s governor Mohamed Laksassi. The latter sent him another copy of the report.

Judge: you held the position of Secretary General of the finance ministry in 2000-2005.

Lakehal: yes, sir.

Judge: when the new minister was appointed, what did he asked you to do?

Lakehal: he talked to me about a special report but he did not find it.

Judge: then?

Lakehal: the minister asked the Algeria Bank’s governor to send him another copy. He assigned me to appoint a team to examine the report.

Judge: how did the Algeria Bank decided to freeze foreign commerce?

Lakehal: the decision came following a detailed report about wrongdoings at Khalifa Bank.

Judge: did the report talked about wrongdoings at Khalifa Airways?

Lakehal: possibly because the report said a money transfer operation was conducted by Khalifa Bank for Khalifa Airways.