Algeria arrests five billionaires as part of anti-graft probe

Unidentified members of the civil society and politicians wait for the start of a proposed meeting with Algeria's interim president Abdelkader Bensalah in Algiers. Picture: Ramzi Boudina/Reuters

Unidentified members of the civil society and politicians wait for the start of a proposed meeting with Algeria's interim president Abdelkader Bensalah in Algiers. Picture: Ramzi Boudina/Reuters

Published Apr 22, 2019

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Algiers - Five Algerian billionaires,

some of them close to former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika who

quit over mass protests, have been arrested as part of an

anti-graft investigation, Algerian state TV said on Monday.

The five are Issad Rebrab, considered the richest

businessman in the energy-rich north African nation, and four

brothers from the Kouninef family, it said.

The move came after Algeria's army chief, Lieutenant General

Gaid Salah, said last week he expected members of the ruling

elite in the major oil and natural gas-producing country to be

prosecuted for corruption.

An Algerian court has already summoned former prime minister

Ahmed Ouyahia and current Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal, two

close associates of Bouteflika, in a investigation into

suspected misuse of public money, state TV said on Saturday.

Bouteflika stepped down two weeks ago after 20 years in

power, bowing to pressure from the army and weeks of

demonstrations by mainly younger Algerians seeking change.

But the protests, which began on Feb. 22 and have been

largely peaceful, have continued as many want the removal of an

entire elite that has governed Algeria since independence from

France in 1962. They also want the prosecution of people they

see as corrupt.

Bouteflika has been replaced by Abdelkader Bensalah, head of

the upper house of parliament, as interim president for 90 days

until a presidential election is held on July 4.

Hundreds of thousands protested on Friday to demand the

resignation of Bensalah and other top officials. 

Reuters

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