Investigation on Sonatrach case continues, says justice minister

Investigations on the Sonatrach case are still going on in the Algerian justice and will not exclude anyone involved in the corruption scandal, Algerian justice minister Mohamed Chorfi said on Tuesday.

“The Algerian justice will not forget anyone whoever he or she is. It is only the examining judge who has the prerogatives to call in names reported by Algerian and foreign media,” said the minister.

Asked about the relation between justice and foreign investments, he told journalists foreign investors pay attention to justice and its role in protecting their projects.

Speaking about foreign companies involved in corruption cases in Algeria, he said the Algerian justice punishes corrupted investors either foreigners or Algerians.

He denied allegations that there is a conflict between lawyers and judges, saying “neither lawyers nor judges are in conflict over a personal issue.”

“Some misunderstanding can happen as part of work but it can be settled,” he added.