Khalifa Airways case: 71 suspects to appear in court

A total of 71 people including Rafik Abdelmoumene Khalifa, his wife Nadia Amirouchene, a former head of government and seven ministers will appear in court, Echorouk has learnt.

The judge will handle Khalifa Airways case as a number of people are accused of concluding suspicious deals, counterfeiting and corruption.

According to the same sources, the investigation started in 2003. Deputy Governor of the Bank of Algeria, Ali Touati submitted a report to the examining judge who charged 71 people. Of them, 12 involved in the Khalifa Bank case were trialled in a court in Blida in June.

Ministers, State executives and important public personalities were questioned by the examining judge. They are expected to appear in court as witnesses.

Said Saadi, Secretary General of the General Union of Algerian Workers is accused of giving illegal advantages to Khalifa Airways.

The investigation also touched Khalifa Airways’ trainees abroad. Of them, workers at Air Algerie, officials’ sons and public enterprises directors. This case triggered a large controversy in the court. Abdelmoumene Khalifa was accused of squandering public enterprises’ money deposited at Khalifa Bank.

Investigators also worked on money embezzlement through Khalifa Airways.

Khalifa Bank’s liquidator Mouncif Badsi said 17 million euros and $19 million were embezzled by Rafik Abdelmoumene after the Bank of Algeria had forbidden his bank from exercising foreign trade. Those sums were embezzled through 360 illegal transactions.