Khalifa can oppose sentence, says lawyer

Millionaire swindler Abdelmoumene Khalifa can oppose the life sentence decided by a court in Algeria and appear in court once again. If this is done, he will not be guilty until charges are proved through available evidences, according to a law professor.

“Abdelmoumene Khalifa may ask for release on bail but it is likely that the court would not accept that. The suspect can not give sufficient guarantees as he was on the run and was extradited to Algeria following an arrest warrant,” Professor Ahmed Hafed Kadri told Echorouk on the phone.

“As part of the Algerian law, suspect who is sentenced in absentia can oppose the sentence in order to appear in court once again,” he added.

According to the president of the Consultative Commission for Human Rights Protection and Promotion Farouk Ksentini, it is impossible to release Khalifa on bail as he was on the run.

“Khalifa can oppose the sentence and make a plea to the Supreme Court. It will take two years. I can not defend him because I defended his victims,” he said.

Speaking about people sentenced in 2007 for Khalifa’s case, Ksentini said those who made pleas become non guilty and they will appear in court once again. Suspects who got definitive sentences and did not make pleas to the Supreme Court will be summoned as witnesses. Prisoners who are acquitted will be compensated.