Sonatrach trial: 100,000 euros to have fun in the snow for a week

Judge at a criminal court in Algiers Mohamed Rekad Monday continued hearing suspects in the Sonatrach 1 case. Eight of them were questioned about electronic protection and deals concluded with an Algerian-German group with mutual agreement.

Attorney General: 100,000 euros to spend a week in snow?

Attorney General at the court asked suspect Ismail Djaafar about his wealth as he won deals with Sonatrach. He gained advantages and sums in euro from a German company. He bought real-estates inside and outside Algeria.

The suspect denied all those facts, saying that real-estates belong to another company and not to him. Yet, the Attorney General’s questions were clear. He asked him about his company situation before and after he had won Sonatrach’s deals.

“How it comes that a German company gives you a huge loan. It did not know you and wanted to invest in Algeria. How do you explain the transfer of 100,000 euros to a man named Steven Corse. You said you paid it to spend time in the snow for a week. In the past, could you pay such a sum to spend holidays?” the Attorney General asked him.

“Man evolves,” the suspect answered.

Debate triggered between lawyers

Sonatrach’s lawyer Abdelmadjid Sellini tried to prove that Ismail Djaafar’s company was not eligible to win deals at Sonatrach.

A sharp debate was sparked between the suspect’s lawyers and Sellini as they showed objection to his questions.

Sonatrach’s lawyer also showed that Djaafar’s company did not pay delay fine in many projects.

The suspect said seven other companies did not achieve their projects with Sonatrach. “They were bankrupt and quitted. Our company made a progress of 90 percent and faced hindrances at Sonatrach.”

“Do you have any document to show this delay or obstacle posed by Sonatrach?” the lawyer asked him.

The suspect could not answer.

Sellini asked him about the way the German company obtained its money.

Djaafar answered him by saying that the relation between his company and the German company is part of foreign trade.