Officials and businessmen involved in East-West Motorway scandal

A total of 16 people will appear in court next Wednesday for being involved in the East-West Motorway. Seven foreign companies are also prosecuted and two persons are on the run. Lawyers are expected to raise the issue of international arbitration used by many accused companies including Japan’s Cojal building company.

The suspects who include executives at the public works ministry, businessmen and foreign companies representatives will answer questions about their involvement in corruption an money laundering and squandering.

The investigation was launched in 2008 following a complaint lodged by the public works ministry’s legal representative against the former new projects director at the Motorway National Agency. He alleged that foreign companies gave bribes to some officials at the ministry to get the project.

The investigation showed wrongdoings in the East-West Motorway project which was granted to a Chinese group in 2006.

The East-West Motorway issued raised a large controversy as a request for international arbitration was made.

Public works minister Abelkader Kadi said deals concluded with Cojal are submitted to the Algerian law.