Sonatrach scandal: 108 witnesses and Chekib Khelil not mentioned

A criminal court in Algiers Sunday postponed the Sonatrach 1 case under pressure from defense lawyers. Judge Mohamed Rekad rejected their request to release seven suspects who have been arrested for five years. Of them, there are the sons of Sonatrach’s former CEO. The witnesses list includes 108 names while Algeria’s former energy minister Chakib Khelil is not mentioned.

In presence of international and Algerian reporters, the court opened the Sonatrach 1 case. Defense lawyers insisted on postponing it and warned to withdraw.

It was 9 a.m. when the room was full with suspects’ families, journalists, lawyers and security guards. Representatives of Italy and Germany’s embassies were present along with Sonatrach’s former CEO Abdelhamid Zerguine, current interim director Said Sahnoune, Sonatrach’s executives and interpreters.   

A battle inside the court

Treasury constituted as a civil part and defense lawyers opposed

The judge asked for the names of defense lawyers. Their number was 15 along with 3 companies and Sonatrach. Public Treasury’s judicial agent was constituted as a civil part and asked for compensation. Lawyers were against that and asked the judge to exclude him.

The judge refused to exclude the Public Treasury’s representative

The judge postponed the final decision about the exclusion of the Public Treasury. He said the court is ready to summon all the witnesses.