Motorway trial: a fierce confrontation between minister Ghoul and suspect Kheladi

Algeria’s former public works minister Ammar Ghoul said statements made by suspect Mohamed Kheladi about his involvement in the motorway scandal are baseless.

My marriage was like a military service

Judge Tayeb Hilali Thursday heard investor Lkhair Alab who said he was excluded from Samsung and got married with Colonel Lamari’s daughter.

“I got married and divorced on order. It was a like a 24-month-military service. In 2003, my sufferance started and my company was taken from me,” he told the judge.

The judge ordered to read witnesses’ statements including that of Ammar Ghoul upon request from Kheladi.

The minister said there is no relationship with Tadjeddine Adou and he met him by chance in a wedding party.

One of the questions asked on Ghoul was about Japan’s Cojal and Chinese’s Citic. Investigations showed that they paid rental apartments for executives.

The minister said he did not know about that and denied Kheladi’s allegations.

Kheladi told investigators he informed Ghoul about wrongdoings in the motorway project. Yet, the minister denied that and described Kheladi’s statements as fiction stories.

Bouchama is an honest executive

The minister said Kheladi was dismissed following a report. He hailed Bouchama’s performance and loyalty.

“I have worked with Bouchama at many ministries for ten years and I saw his loyalty and competence. He was an honest man and respected the law.”

One of the questions related to the project cost. It says the project cost $6 million but the sum was estimated at about $8 million in Algeria.

The minister said the deal was validated by the National Commission of Public Deals and it was decided that the price was appropriate to the project.

Kheladi said he submitted a report to the minister about the project cost.

Kheladi also said Cojal and Citic paid for the trip of a ministerial delegation and executives to attend an international exhibition in Paris. This was upon request from Ghoul, according to Kheladi.

Ghoul said the ministry did not asked the two groups to pay the costs. “This is an attempt to falsify facts.”

The judge asked Cojal’s representative about the issue. He told the judge his company received a written instruction from Kheladi and new projects agency director.