Hearing or two before receiving Khalifa, says minister

The Algerian government said the extradition of businessman Rafik Abdelmoumene Khalifa will be done after a hearing or two, according to the justice minister.

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• “The decision of UK to extradite Khalifa gives evidence of the Algerian justice credibility,” Tayeb Belaiz told reporters on Saturday.
• He added that many countries failed to obtain extradition decisions from the UK justice.
• He denied that Algeria and the UK would have sealed a deal for the extradition. “I will not comment about judicial judgments issued by the Algerian or foreign justice. Though I say the British justice is known for impartiality and independence.”
• Belaiz expressed his delight over the successful mission of the Algerian justice ministry in providing sufficient evidences to convince the UK justice about the legitimacy of the extradition.
• Earlier, a court in Blida (west of Algiers) sentenced Khalifa to life in prison in absentia.
• “The Algerian justice provided all the necessary guarantees for a fair trial of Rafik Abdelmoumene Khalifa,” said Belaiz.
• He also said the UK home office will notify Khalifa of the judgment within the next 14 days so that he can appeal against it at the British high court.
• “Khalifa must give new evidences and facts. Otherwise, he will not have any right to benefit from a decision from the high court.”