Khalifa comes back to Algeria

Fugitive suspect Abdelmoumene Khalifa arrived to the Algiers Airport on Tuesday surrounded by an Algerian delegation which went to London to receive him as well as representatives of British authorities and the Interpol.

The plane landed at around 6:15 pm. Hand-cuffed Khalifa was wearing a black suit without a tie. He was the last person who went down from the plane. A large number of journalists were present along with a delegation on two presidential cars and Britain’s ambassador to Algiers.

The main suspect in the century scandal is expected to appear in a criminal court in Blida as he was sentenced to life in prison in absentia in 2007.

Five years ago, Algerian judicial authorities asked their British counterparts to extradite him while his lawyers made a plea to the UK Supreme Court which decided his extradition.

Representatives of Algerian judicial and diplomatic authorities went to London as the British law stipulates that the extradition decision should be implemented within a month.

Speaking about procedures, defense lawyer Mohamed Borghel said the Algerian interior ministry is in charge of taking the wanted man on a special plane in collaboration with British judicial authorities and the Interpol. He should be under the surveillance of the Algerian delegation and the Interpol.

“When Khalifa arrives to Algeria, border guards are supposed to take him to judicial authorities,” Borghel told Echorouk.

He added that the suspect will be informed of the sentence and given the right to make a plea to the Supreme Court within eight days.

“In the case of Khalifa, judicial procedures can be speeded up. The Supreme Court will either approve the plea or reject it by keeping the suspect in jail.”

He believes that Khalifa’s extradition will represent to trial him along with the rest of suspects because the case is still open.

“If it takes a long time to examine the plea, the other suspects can not wait and they will be trialed and will be summoned as witnesses in Khalifa’s trial,” said Borghel.

He added that Khalifa can be brought as a witness in the other suspects’ trial.