Algiers court issues verdict in Sahel State Residence corruption case involving 24 defendants
via Algérie3602 min read
The Algiers Court has delivered its verdict in a significant corruption case concerning the Sahel State Residence, involving 24 defendants, including an influential entrepreneur and the son of a former wali of Oran. The criminal chamber upheld the sentences initially handed down by the Chéraga court. Entrepreneur M. Abdelnour received a five-year prison sentence and a 500,000 dinar fine for obtaining undue advantages through pressure on public officials, non-compliant public procurement, and concealment of evidence. He was acquitted of money laundering. T. Mohamed was sentenced to three years in prison and a 200,000 dinar fine, while M. Mohamed received six months in prison and a 50,000 dinar fine for professional secret disclosure and abuse of office. Employees of the Ouled Fayet commune were given one to two years in prison and fines between 100,000 and 200,000 dinars for abuse of office and complicity. Other defendants, including the former wali's son, were acquitted. T. Mohamed and M. Mohamed Amine were ordered to jointly pay 500,000 dinars in compensation to the Sahel State Residence. The case originated from an investigation into an former wali of Oran, accused of transferring assets, including an apartment and a pleasure boat, to his son, who then allegedly resold them under suspicious conditions to M. Abdelnour. Investigations revealed irregularities in public contract awards and a widespread corruption network involving officials, including the driver of the former S
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Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the Algeria-Jordan World Cup 2026 match on June 23. This decision has drawn attention due to a past controversy involving Vincic. In 2020, he was present at a party in Bijeljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where police seized narcotics, weapons, and other materials. Vincic was questioned as a witness, not a suspect, and stated his presence was due to a professional invitation, calling it a "grave error" and expressing regret. The FIFA was aware of the incident but did not remove him from their lists, and he has since continued to officiate high-level international matches. This appointment comes as Algeria faces a critical second group match, with any contentious refereeing decision expected to be heavily scrutinized. The Algerian team is already under pressure following a controversial match against Argentina on June 17, where Polish referee Szymon Marciniak reportedly overlooked several fouls against Algerian players. The Algerian Football Federation filed an official complaint with the FIFA, which later acknowledged a judgment error by the VAR referees and issued sanctions. The selection of Vincic for the Algeria-Jordan match reignites debate about the FIFA's criteria for appointing referees in high-stakes games, especially when officials have past controversies. This discussion extends beyond Algeria, as several controversial refereeing decisions and the opaque functioning of the centralized VAR system in Dallas hav
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The Romanian Embassy in Algeria, a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, will suspend its visa services indefinitely starting June 25, 2026. This means Algerian applicants for a Schengen visa to Romania will be unable to submit new applications. The diplomatic representation stated in a social media release that the temporary suspension is due to a "vacancy of the consul position." The embassy noted that this is not an unprecedented situation, as visa services have been temporarily closed in the past due to staff shortages. Romania joined the Schengen area on January 1, 2025, formalizing the lifting of border controls. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively seeking solutions to resolve the situation promptly. The embassy did not specify procedures for visa applications already submitted and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to applicants.