The Supreme Court of Algeria scheduled a review of the 'Gold and 1100 Billion' scandal case for 19 November. This judicial proceeding follows the involvement of several individuals, including M. Karim Saleh, B. Ammar, T. Belkacem, T. Omar, J. Abderrahmane, A. Omar, A. Kamel, A. Sofiane, B. Nadjib, and B. Reda. The investigation centers on activities linked to companies identified as Wissam Bijou, Gold, Chahir, and Cricolas, alongside the Banque Nationale d'Algérie. Authorities previously gathered evidence related to these entities in the municipality of Zighoud Youcef. The upcoming session before the Supreme Court aims to address the legal challenges surrounding these financial irregularities. Judicial officials will examine the case files to determine the next steps in the prosecution of the named parties.
Scope of the Legal Proceedings
Legal proceedings involve 83 defendants identified in the investigation. Authorities confirmed that 22 of these individuals are currently held in custody while the remaining parties face ongoing judicial scrutiny. Officials managing the case against the named individuals seek to finalize the status of all defendants before the scheduled court appearance. The prosecution intends to present evidence concerning the full group during the review process. Each of the 83 defendants remains subject to the court's jurisdiction as the judiciary evaluates their specific roles in the financial irregularities linked to the identified entities. The 22 detainees continue to await further rulings from the Supreme Court of Algeria regarding their legal standing.
Sentencing of Key Defendants
M. Karim Saleh, the owner of Wissam Bijou, received a sentence of 12 years in prison alongside an 8 million DZD fine. T. Omar, currently a fugitive, faces a 20-year prison term and a fine exceeding 314 million DZD for his role in the case.
B. Ammar, the manager of Gold company, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay an 8 million DZD fine. T. Belkacem received an 8-year prison sentence and an 8 million DZD fine. These rulings conclude the initial sentencing phase for these four key defendants as the Supreme Court of Algeria prepares for the broader review of the financial scandal. All parties remain subject to the court’s ongoing legal oversight as the judiciary processes the case files.
Bank Staff and Corporate Penalties
Employees of the Banque Nationale d'Algérie at the Zighoud Youcef branch received prison sentences as part of the judicial response to the financial scandal. These staff members were issued terms ranging from 3 years to 18 months of incarceration. Each of these individuals also received a 1 million DZD fine as part of their sentencing.
Corporate entities involved in the case face separate financial penalties. The companies identified as Wissam Bijou, Gold, Chahir, and Cricolas were collectively fined 32 million DZD. These corporate sanctions and the prison sentences for bank personnel represent the judiciary’s efforts to address the institutional involvement in the reported irregularities. All parties remain subject to the court’s ongoing legal oversight as the Supreme Court of Algeria prepares for the upcoming review session.