Mami tried to protect his family, says suspect

Abdelkader Laalali, a suspect involved in the case of Algerian singer Cheb Mami said he met him after he run away to Algeria from France and Mami told him he tried to get him involved in the case because he was under pressure.

• Mami went on trial in Paris on July 2nd, accused of attempting to have a 43-year-old magazine photographer undergo a forced abortion.
• Laalai said he was absent in the trial because neither the court nor the Algerian embassy summoned him.
• “I am an Algerian citizen. If I am accused, I am ready to appear in court in my country. France should transfer my case to Algeria. I am waiting…,” he told Echorouk.
• According to Laalali, Mami tried to protect some involved persons by holding him responsible. “They are the two women who did the abortion in the villa and Mami’s cousin Kada.”
• Laalali also said there were conflicts between him and the singer. “He owes me 13 million DZ. We used to be friends and have business together. We worked together in some real-estate projects.”