The Court of the Economic and Financial Penal Division of Sidi M'hamed issued verdicts on Tuesday, July 7th, at 10:30 AM, in a corruption case related to the project to change water channels in Bechar province. The judge of the Second Branch announced sentences ranging from one to seven years of effective imprisonment, alongside financial penalties between 100,000 and 8 million Algerian Dinars. Defendants included the Director of Irrigation, employees of Algerian Water, the head and members of the tender opening committee, contractors, and local investors. They were accused of illegally selling approximately 860 kilometers of water channels between Kourba Dam and Bechar, bypassing public auction. The court's decision marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within public sector projects.
Details of Sentences and Charges
Businessman 'B.B.', committee member 'A.A.A.', former Director of Irrigation 'Kh.A.', head of the tender opening and evaluation committee 'B.M.H.', and Algerian Water employee 'Q.S.' each received a two-year prison sentence, with six months of that term suspended. Contractor 'B.A.' and technical director 'H.T.' were sentenced to one year of effective imprisonment and fined 100,000 Algerian Dinars. Sentences for the remaining defendants varied, ranging from acquittal to one year of effective imprisonment. These verdicts reflect the varying degrees of involvement and responsibility determined by the court for each individual implicated in the scheme.
The charges brought against the defendants were extensive, encompassing a range of illicit activities. These included the forgery of administrative documents, the misuse of those forged documents, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, and requesting undue advantage. Further accusations included abuse of office and the failure to report a corruption crime. Additionally, some defendants faced charges of theft, complicity in the misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office to obtain undue benefits. The full nature of the charges showed the severity and multifaceted character of the alleged corruption.
Investigation and Prosecution Claims
The prosecution described the case as "serious," characterizing it as a systematic attack on the national economy. This strong assertion noted the perceived impact of the corrupt activities on the country's financial integrity and public trust. The investigation revealed that a contractor and a businessman sought intermediaries to purchase water channels at reduced prices. They allegedly offered undue advantages and utilized technical files that lacked the required standards for these transactions, thereby subverting established procurement processes.
The contractor and his partner reportedly did not possess certificates of good performance necessary for such work. They are accused of falsifying documents in collusion with employees to embezzle public funds. This alleged falsification of credentials and documents allowed them to participate in and benefit from the project despite not meeting the necessary qualifications. Judicial expertise determined that the embezzlement and waste of public funds in this case amounted to over 60 billion centimes (600 million Algerian Dinars). Additionally, the Directorate of Irrigation reportedly failed to inform the Directorate of State Property about the procedures related to the sale of these water channels, a procedural lapse that further facilitated the illicit transactions. The prosecution emphasized that these actions were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort to defraud the state.
Defense Arguments and Financial Claims
The defendants asserted that the contested deal was predicated on a certificate of good performance, maintaining that the contractor's financial offer represented the most advantageous option. They argued that the procedures followed were in line with standard practice for such transactions, attempting to legitimize their actions within existing frameworks. Separately, the legal representative for the Public Treasury formally requested compensation totaling 60 million Algerian Dinars from the defendants. This claim for damages was presented during the court proceedings, seeking restitution for the financial losses incurred as a result of the alleged corruption surrounding the water channel project in Bechar province. The Public Treasury's demand for compensation shows the significant financial impact of the corruption on state resources and its commitment to recovering public funds.