Algeria Opens Trial Against Former Ministers of Industry, Investment on Corruption Charges

Former Minister for Privatization and Investment Promotion Abdelhamid Temmar. (Social media)
Former Minister for Privatization and Investment Promotion Abdelhamid Temmar. (Social media)
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Algeria Opens Trial Against Former Ministers of Industry, Investment on Corruption Charges

Former Minister for Privatization and Investment Promotion Abdelhamid Temmar. (Social media)
Former Minister for Privatization and Investment Promotion Abdelhamid Temmar. (Social media)

Two Algerian former ministers have gone on trial on serious corruption charges, according to lawyers.

The case involves former Minister of Industry Mohamed Benmeradi, former Minister for Privatization and Investment Promotion, Abdelhamid Temmar, and six other defendants.

Shortly after the start of their trial, Benmeradi’s lawyers requested to postpone the session until September 26, stating they required time to review the file more carefully and prepare the pleas.

The judge accepted their request, but he stressed that the trial “will take place next time, whatever the conditions.”

Benmeradi, 70, was placed in pretrial detention two years ago, while Temmar, 73, had left the country years ago after he stepped down from the government during the rule of late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from 1999 to 2019.

A ruling was issued for his arrest. An international arrest warrant is expected to be issued against him after the Algerian court pronounces its final verdict.

Algerian laws prohibit the appointment of lawyers for defendants residing abroad, even if they are not fugitives.

Benmeradi, Temmar and the other defendants are accused of several misdemeanors, including granting privileges and credits, squandering public funds and exploiting their positions.

They are also accused of mismanagement of the “Public Corporation for Industrial Construction and Civil Engineering,” and of concluding illegal deals, with the aim of obtaining special privileges and benefits.

A judicial inquiry into the company's management reported that in the early 2000’s, attempts were made when Temmar was still in office to sell the Public Corporation for Industrial Construction and Civil Engineering “outside the legal framework” to a Belgian company specializing in construction and public works.

Al-Shorouk newspaper had previously described Temmar as “the architect who destroyed private institutions.”

Dozens of prominent civilian and military officials have been imprisoned by the authorities over corruption allegations.

They include former Prime Ministers Noureddine Bedoui, Ahmed Ouyahia, Abdelmalek Sellal and former chief presidential advisor, Said Bouteflika, the once-powerful brother of the former president, in addition to former intelligence chiefs, Generals Bachir Tartag and Wassini Bouazza, and dozens of high-ranking officers.



Israeli Raid in Syria’s Masyaf Targeted Iranian Missile Manufacturing Facility

Israeli raid on Masyaf
Israeli raid on Masyaf
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Israeli Raid in Syria’s Masyaf Targeted Iranian Missile Manufacturing Facility

Israeli raid on Masyaf
Israeli raid on Masyaf

The Iranian embassy in Damascus on Friday denied that its advisors stationed in Syria were targeted during Israel's September 9 raid in the city of Masyaf in Syria's central province of Hama, saying the Israeli allegations were lies.

“After 11 months of failing to achieve its goals in the Gaza war, the Zionist regime has reached a level of disappointment that it sees no way to save itself, but to kill the children and spread lies,” the embassy said.

The mission’s statement came days after Israel raided the Scientific Research Center and several military sites in Masyaf. Syria’s official news agency, SANA, said 18 people were killed in the operation and 37 others were wounded, including six people in critical condition.

But media reports said the Israeli raids destroyed a secret Hezbollah missile production facility near the Lebanese border.

Israel Briefed US

The Axios website quoted on Friday two sources as saying Israel briefed the Biden administration in advance of the sensitive operation and the US didn't oppose it. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment.

Also, two sources with direct knowledge told Axios the Iranians began building the underground facility in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018 because it would be impenetrable to Israeli air strikes.

Local residents said a state of tension prevails in the region where people feel they are “victims of battles they have nothing to do with.”

The residents recorded the sound of helicopters flying over Masyaf that night for more than an hour, without being intercepted by the forces deployed in the area.

Local media outlets on Friday broadcasted images of young volunteers from the area who said they were removing rubble from sites hit by the Israeli attack, one of the most lethal in Syria in recent months.

SOHR Version

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted on Friday seven reliable sources, including civilians and combatants who confronted the Israeli raid, as saying that the accurate and compound operation in Masyaf targeted the “Heer Abbas” site which houses a factory for manufacturing and developing medium-range missiles.

The factory had been constructed and supervised by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, it said.

Before commandoes descended, Israeli forces carried out a series of intensive airstrikes, targeting vital sites in the region.

“Nearly five helicopters participated in the airdrop, where they flew at low altitude. A helicopter heading the squadron was equipped with a strong projector,” the Observatory said.

Several drones and fighter jets participated in the operation, according to SOHR. It said regime air-defenses managed to shoot down a drone in Banyas on the Syrian coastline.

Shortly before the airdrop, the Observatory said Israeli forces launched intensive airstrikes against vital sites in the region. The forces used electronic warfare jamming systems which facilitated the airdrop of around 100 Israeli special forces.

Later, the Israeli soldiers who participated in the airdrop clashed for over three hours with local forces and civilians. Residents in surrounding areas clearly heard the gunfire.

SOHR said the Israeli soldiers managed to destroy the factory. The sources could not verify if the Israeli forces took important and secret documents from the “Heer Abbas” site. However, the sources confirmed that no Iranian-backed militias were captured during the Israeli operation.

27 People Killed

According to SOHR sources, the Israeli raid left 27 people dead and at least 32 others injured. Some of the bodies were dismembered, while others were charred, it said.