Hearings over Sonatrach scandal finished

Accusation chamber president at a court in Algiers finished complementary investigation in the case of Algeria’s energy group Sonatrach. All involved persons were questioned and the sentence will be decided on January 23rd, Echorouk has learnt.

Sonatrach’s CEO, his three assistants, his two sons, Executive Director at the group, manager of research department, former General Director of Algeria’s CPA bank and his son are accused of money laundering and sealing illicit deals, sources say.

The Sonatrach case has been postponed for many times since October 2011. Authorities ordered to carry out a complementary investigation in a number of foreign countries including France to check suspects’ property abroad which may have linked to suspicious deals signed at Sonatrach.

Earlier in December, the accusation chamber president summoned Sonatrach’s former CEO, his two sons and wife and Director of Algerian-German company to hear them. In its next session, the camber will decide in the money laundering case.