Jurists: Chakib Khalil Paves Way for His Return to Algeria

Lawyers consider that the appearance of the former Energy Minister, Chakib Khalil, on a television intervention as former head of the Organization “OPEC”, confirms that his name was dropped from the list of people who are followed by justice in the corruption case “Sonatrach 2”, which is still under investigation at Algiers criminal court of Sidi M’hamed.

They think that mystery still surrounds the international arrest warrant, which was incorrectly issued since August 2013 by the Judge of the penal pole of Sidi M’Hamed Court, and stressed that the defence lawyers in the case of “Sonatrach 2” did not yet obtain the file of the case, and they do not know the fate of the arrest warrant the was issued against the former Energy Minister, Chakib Khalil, his wife and his two sons, and other defendants who are still on the run.

In this context, the lawyer, Khaled Borghol, said in a reading of the Energy Minister, Chakib Khelil, appearance on TV, after many years of absence from the media scene, that the truth and reality reveal that there is nothing that prevents the minister Khalil from appearing on TV and giving his opinion as an energy expert.

“He gave a prospective opinion for as a former head of OPEC, and as an economist to reassure the international public opinion about the high prices and and their stability.”

“Chakib Khalil is preparing, through his appearance on the American TV, to resume his life normally, after what turned out and proved to the public opinion that he is not involved in corruption case, in which he was mentioned for the first time in Italy in what is known as “Saipem-Sonatrach” case, which facts of its trial are continuing at the level of Milan Court. A second session of the trial will be held on February, 29, and the minister is not summoned to attend it, neither as a witness nor as an accused.”