Tahkout Corruption Probe: Justice Orders Complementary Investigations

The Algiers Judicial Council decided, on Tuesday, January 7, to open a complementary investigation into the corruption file related to obstructing the proper conduct of judicial investigations, through concealing and disposing of properties, in which the “Tahkout” family and the accused are being prosecuted.

In detail, the President of the Tenth Criminal Chamber of the Algiers Judicial Council ordered, before ruling on the case, to conduct a complementary investigation, by appointing an expert to go to Mostaganem Customs (western Algeria) to obtain the basic files of the cars to verify the date of disposal of the seized property by judicial order before or after the issuance of the decision.

The defendants in this case are being prosecuted again before the 10th Criminal Chamber of the Algiers Judicial Council with a new formation, after the Supreme Court accepted the appeal in favour of the law against the defendants on serious charges included in the Anti-Corruption and Prevention Law 01/06, ranging from money laundering by concealing property and proceeds obtained from corruption crimes, as well as obstructing the proper course of justice by giving false testimony in corruption crimes and obstructing the investigations into them, in addition to influencing and pressurizing the judicial administrators appointed by justice.

In June 2023, the Eighth Criminal Chamber of the Algiers Judicial Council upheld the rulings issued by the Economic and Financial Criminal Pole, which imposed varying penalties of up to 10 years against the family of businessman Mohieddine Tahkout. It convicted Rachid, Ibrahim, and Hamid Tahkout of 10 years in prison.

The judicial authorities also sentenced Bilal Tahkout to 10 years in prison and Ali Tahkout to 5 years in jail, while Youcef Tahkout was sentenced to 4 years in prison, Tahkout Nacer benefited from acquittal and the accused “J.M.R.” was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

The court issued other varying sentences ranging from two, three and four years in prison for the rest of the accused, including employees of the municipality of Reghaia (Algiers), and a sentence of 15 years in jail for some of the accused who are wanted by justice, with the confirmation of the international arrest warrant issued by the investigating judge.

Furthermore, the judge issued a ruling to confiscate all the seized property, including real estate and bank accounts mentioned in the seizure reports issued by the investigating judge, while accepting the establishment of the Public Treasury as a civil party in the case and obligating the convicted defendants to pay an amount of DZD 1 million each and DZD 2 billion as compensation to it jointly.