The Court of the Economic and Financial Penal Pole of Sidi M'hamed has set October 6 as the final deadline for the trial of former Minister of Water Resources Azraqi Braqui. The proceedings also involve the Director General of the National Agency for Dams, "M.M.", and his successor, "B.Sh.W.". These prominent figures, along with others implicated in the case, face accusations of serious corruption connected to the Majaz El Bechar dam reinforcement project. This significant infrastructure project, intended to serve vital agricultural needs, reportedly cost the public treasury approximately 600 billion centimes, raising substantial questions about financial management and oversight.
Dam Project Details Emerge
A contract for the Majaz El Bechar dam reinforcement project was suspiciously awarded to a private company owned by R.H. The project’s stated purpose was agricultural irrigation in Ain Makhlouf municipality, Guelma Province, a region heavily reliant on such infrastructure for its agricultural output. Its initial financial value was estimated at approximately 130 billion centimes. However, the project's cost nearly quadrupled, eventually exceeding 580 billion centimes. This substantial cost increase was attributed to a series of amendments that significantly surpassed the original contract value, drawing the attention of judicial investigators.
Three amendments were made during the project's execution, fundamentally transforming its scope from a simple dam reinforcement to an ambitious undertaking focused on increasing its height. This change in scope, coupled with the escalating costs, became a central point of the investigation. The second amendment alone incurred costs exceeding 230 billion centimes, marking a significant deviation from the initial budget. A subsequent third amendment further added over 75 billion centimes to the total expenditure. These substantial overruns collectively cost the public treasury more than 580 billion centimes, noting a pattern of financial irregularities and potential mismanagement that led to the current legal proceedings.
Investigation and Agency Vulnerabilities
The Regional Judicial Investigation Service in Algiers conducted the thorough investigation into the Majaz El Bechar dam project case. During the course of their inquiry, the service identified significant vulnerabilities within the operational frameworks and oversight mechanisms of the National Agency for Dams and Transfers (الوكالة الوطنية للسدود والتحويلات). Investigators determined that the agency's internal systems were susceptible to the embezzlement of public funds, a critical finding that sheds light on how such extensive financial irregularities could occur. This susceptibility was a key finding in understanding how the project's costs escalated dramatically through multiple amendments and how public funds could be diverted or misused. The investigation's findings show serious concerns regarding financial oversight and accountability within the agency, contributing directly to the grave charges now faced by former officials, including the former Minister and the agency's past directors.
Trial Proceedings and Next Steps
The court decision to postpone the trial, setting October 6 as the new deadline, was made at the request of the defense. This delay also facilitates the summoning of absent parties involved in the complex case, ensuring all relevant individuals can be present for the proceedings. The trial is centered on accusations of corruption linked to the Majaz El Bechar dam reinforcement project, which has become a focal point of public scrutiny. Former Minister of Water Resources Azraqi Braqui, the Director General of the National Agency for Dams, "M.M.", and his successor, "B.Sh.W." are among those facing these serious charges. The project, initially valued at approximately 130 billion centimes, saw its cost escalate to over 580 billion centimes due to multiple amendments, leading to the current legal battle. The Regional Judicial Investigation Service in Algiers meticulously identified vulnerabilities within the National Agency for Dams and Transfers during its inquiry into the financial irregularities, providing the foundation for the prosecution's case. The upcoming trial is expected to delve deeper into these allegations and determine accountability for the substantial financial losses incurred by the public treasury.