In yet another crackdown on ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s close aides, the Algerian authorities have summoned former police chief, General Abdelghani Hamel, on allegations of corruption, according to Algeria’s state media, reported Africa News.
According to the state media reports, Hamel, who was once considered a pillar of the administration of former president Bouteflika before getting dismissed in June 2018, is due to appear in court Monday with one of his sons. Former President Bouteflika dismissed Hamel amid a cocaine trafficking scandal.
Both Hamel and his son will appear before the investigating judge of the Tipaza court as part of a judicial inquiry into alleged illegal activity, bribery, embezzlement of funds and abuse of power.
“They must be heard in the context of judicial investigation for illegal activities, influence peddling, misappropriation of land and abuse of office,” the state television said.
Since Bouteflika’s resignation on 2 April, the Algerian judiciary opened a series of investigations on powerful businessmen close to the former president and senior government officials involved in corruption and illegal capital transfers.
The courts summoned former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and current Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal earlier this month in particular for misappropriation of public funds. Some of the high-profile figures who were targeted over the past week include the North African country’s richest man, Issad Rebrab, and four brothers from the influential Kouninef family, who were quite close to Bouteflika’s brother Said.
Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour, the head of the vast state oil firm Sonatrach, was also fired and replaced on the orders of Bensalah.
Despite Bouteflika’s resignation, protesters are still in the streets, now wanting the complete collapse of the ruling establishment. They are now demanding the departure of Bensalah himself, a member of Bouteflika’s inner circle throughout his 20 years in power, and Noureddine Bedoui.
The interim government has pledged to hold presidential elections in Algeria on July 4.
