Severe sentences pronounced in the national bank’s embezzlement case

After 24 hours of deliberations inside the court of Algiers, the judge Omar Belkherchi yesterday pronounced the sentences on the culprits involved in the embezzlement of 21 billion Algerian Dinars from the Algerian National Bank.

• The two main defendants were sentenced to 18 years while others were given 5 to 10 years depending on the seriousness of the accusations. For his part the bank’s general manager was cleared from all charges.
• Achour abderrehmane and his acolyte A. Rabeh were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment along with Achour’s step brother and his acolyte’s secretary who were accused of the same charges.
•  The judge has pronounced severe sentences against the regional national bank’s manager (A. Mohammed) and two other agencies’ managers for being involved in the setting up of a criminal mob. They get 14 years imprisonment.
• The court room was filled with the culprits’ relatives’ screams soon after the pronouncing of the sentences, while the main defendant Achour Abderrehmane appeared very calm and didn’t show any reaction.
• The audience’s reactions forced the judge to interrupt the session and come back half an hour after to pronounce 20 years in absentia against T. Omar who is at large issuing an international warrant arrest against him.
• The main defendant Achour Abderrehmane is due to appeal in few days at the supreme court arguing that the court didn’t respect the extradition accord sealed with the Moroccan authorities.
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