Khalifa Bank case: Algeria orders police to force ministers and official to attend hearing

The court of Blida Tuesday postponed the hearing in the Khalifa Bank case to the next session due to the absence of a number of suspects and the death of three.

The court refused to release three arrested suspects while 14 people who were jailed pending for investigation were freed. Of them, there was Algeria’s national football former coach Meziane Eagle.

At around 9 am, judge Antar Menaouer opened the hearing formal procedures. The room was full of lawyers and accused who were estimated at 72.

A large number of journalists were present in the court. The judge started the hearing by calling in the suspects. Of them, 19 were arrested. Lawyers intervened from time to time to inform him that some accused people died. Attorney General asked for official death certificates as the court did not have any evidence about their death.

Some suspects were absent including Saidal’s former CEO Ali Aoun.

The judge had called in the suspects for more than an hour. The room was not big enough for lawyers who were estimated at more than 100 along with witnesses, suspects and journalists. The judge asked for calm so that suspects could hear their names.

The hearing was resumed at around 11 am. A total of 300 witnesses were called in but most of them were absent. Former international player Lakhdar Beloumi, football team JSK’s manager Mohand Cherif Hanachi, governor of the Bank of Algeria Mohamed Laksaci attended the hearing.

Concerned ministers including finance minister Karim Djoudi, housing minister Abdelmadjid Teboune, foreign minister Mourad Medelci, trade union leader Sidi Said Abdelmadjid, leader of MSP party Abu Djerra Soltani, businessman Mahieddine Tahkout and Sonelgaz’s CEO Nourredine Bouterfa were absent as well.

The judge said the witnesses will be called in according to a schedule planned by the court. Absent witnesses will be brought to the court by the police.

Once the judge finished calling in witnesses, some of them left the court including Laksaci who refused to talk to journalists.