Algeria’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the detention of former justice minister Tayeb Louh over alleged corruption under former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, reported Reuters. Louh is the eight ex-government figure to be arrested since mass protests began this year demanding the departure of the ruling elite and prosecution of all those suspected of corruption.
According to Algeria’s official news agency APS, the former justice minister is being investigated for abusing his powers, impeding justice and encouraging bias and corruption. Earlier this month, the Court of Algiers announced the start of a preliminary probe against Louh over acts punishable by law, as he was stripped of his passport and banned from leaving the country.
After hours of hearing, the investigation judge ordered the ex-minister to remain in custody, pending trial over the corruption charges.
The 68-year-old Louh was a leader of the former ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) and one of the closest aides of former President Bouteflika. He served as labor minister from 2002 to 2013 and then became the justice minister, a post he served between March 2013 and 2019, until the time the cabinet resigned in March in the face of growing anti-government protests.
The investigation was part of anti-graft investigations which began two months ago to fight corruption by interrogating the former Bouteflika-era officials.
Since Bouteflika stepped down, several politicians, government officials and businessmen once linked to him have come under the scanner. The list includes two former prime ministers, former prime ministers Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal who have been placed under custody. Nine other cabinet ministers, a former police chief, and a dozen key businessmen are also among those placed in provisional detention in recent months.
Algerians are still continuing with the mass protests as they are demanding the departure of interim president Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who are also part of Bouteflika’s ruling elite.
Bensalah has named a panel to start talks with the opposition to prepare and set a date for presidential elections in the country.
