The Economic and Financial Pole Court in Sidi M'hamed issued its final rulings on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, regarding the corruption case involving former Minister Arezki Berraki. Judicial authorities found the defendants guilty of multiple offenses tied to the operations of the National Agency for Dams and Transfers. Legal proceedings focused on charges of abuse of power, misuse of office, dissipation of public funds, and granting unjustified privileges in public contracts. These specific charges formed the core of the prosecution's argument during the trial, as the state sought to address systemic irregularities within the management of national water infrastructure.
Alongside Arezki Berraki, individuals including M. Masoud, M. Sharif, Razzaki Hussein, and T. Q. Faced charges related to the management of projects awarded to firms such as ETPH. The court delivered these verdicts following an investigation into irregularities within the Algerian dam sector. The investigation specifically scrutinized how public contracts were allocated and managed by the National Agency for Dams and Transfers during the tenure of the accused officials.
Sentences for Former Officials
Arezki Berraki, the former Minister of Water Resources, received a sentence of 8 years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of 1 million Algerian dinars against him. This sentence reflects the court's assessment of his role in the misuse of office and the dissipation of public funds under his ministerial oversight.
M. Masoud, the former Director General of the National Agency for Dams and Transfers, faced an identical penalty. Judicial authorities sentenced him to 8 years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of 1 million Algerian dinars. His conviction centered on his direct involvement in the administrative decisions that led to the granting of unjustified privileges in public contracts.
M. Sharif, who also served as a former Director General of the National Agency for Dams and Transfers, received a 7-year prison sentence. His verdict included a fine of 1 million Algerian dinars. These rulings conclude the judicial proceedings regarding the specific roles held by these individuals within the agency and their accountability for the financial conduct of the organization.
Fugitive Defendants and Penalties
Razzaki Hussein, the owner of the company ETPH, received a sentence of 15 years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of 1 million Algerian dinars against him. Judicial authorities confirmed that an international arrest warrant remains active against Razzaki Hussein as he is not in custody. His lengthy sentence corresponds to the severity of the charges linked to the contractual irregularities involving his firm.
The individual identified as T. Q. Faced separate penalties in the same proceedings. The court sentenced T. Q. To 10 years in prison and ordered the payment of a fine of 1 million Algerian dinars. T. Q. Currently remains a fugitive from justice, and the authorities continue their efforts to locate him following the conclusion of the trial. The court’s decision to impose these significant prison terms and financial penalties marks the end of a lengthy legal process aimed at holding these individuals accountable for their actions regarding the National Agency for Dams and Transfers.
