Human rights report suggests life sentence to corruption suspects

The National Consultative Commission of Human Rights Promotion and Protection submitted to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a new proposal to fight corruption based on changing countercorruption law. It suggests to raise punishment to life sentence from 10 years in prison and withdraw Algerian nationality from people involved in corruption cases and confiscate their belongings.

“Corruption in Algeria has reached unbearable limits. Because of that, our proposals came following corruption scandals in many sectors. They threaten national economy,” the commission’s chairman Farouk Ksentini told Echorouk.

“The report contains comprehensive data about corruption cases in Algeria,” he added.

He sounded the alarm over corruption cases in public sector. “We must fight this phenomenon.”

According to Ksentini, the corruption report contains a series of corruption cases in Algeria in 2012-2013.

“We suggested to amend the countercorruption law 2006 by raising prison sentence to 20 years from 10 years and even life sentence in some cases. Other complementary punishments are also suggested such as Algerian nationality withdrawal and properties confiscation,” said Ksentini.