Algeria: 10-Year Sentences Sought in Fraudulent Privatization of Tiaret Mills Case

Prosecutors in Algeria are demanding severe penalties, including 10-year prison sentences, for those accused in a corruption case involving the controversial privatization of public mills. The trial at the Sidi M’hamed economic and financial court centers on the sale of three mills in Tiaret, along with a headquarters and vehicles, to SARL Ikhlasse, a company managed by businessman Youcef Metidji.

Key figures facing charges include former Minister of Participations and Investment Promotion, Hamid Temmar, who is subject to an international arrest warrant. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentence for Temmar and Metidji, along with substantial fines. Metidji, as the manager of Ikhlasse, faces a 10-year sentence and an 8 million dinar fine. Similar harsh sentences are requested for the former CEO of SGP and the former general director of the Tiaret Mills.

The core of the case revolves around the alleged undervaluation and fraudulent sale of state assets. The three mills, administrative headquarters, and vehicles were reportedly sold for 61 million dinars. However, expert evaluations presented in court indicate the value of the mills and headquarters alone, excluding vehicles and real estate, is estimated at 10 billion dinars, and over 19 billion dinars when all assets are included.

Beyond the prison sentences, the public prosecutor is seeking a 32 million dinar fine against Ikhlasse, with the confiscation of all seized assets. The state's legal representative is demanding 1 billion dinars in damages from Hamid Temmar and an additional 500 million dinars jointly from the other defendants to compensate for the losses incurred by the public treasury. The accused, however, maintain they scrupulously followed all applicable regulations.

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Il est apparu, à travers les expertises réalisées, que la valeur des trois moulins et du siège administratif, hors parc, s’élève à dix milliards de dinars, et à plus de dix-neuf milliards en l’incluant, sans même compter la valeur des biens immobiliers appartenant à l’État. Or, la cession a été actée pour 59 millions de dinars, somme portée ultérieurement à 61 millions par une résolution du Conseil des participations de l’État en date du 26 mars 2006.