Abdelmalek Sellal is the second former prime minister to be detained over alleged corruption in two days.
Algeria’s Supreme Court has jailed former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal in an anti-corruption crackdown – the second former head of government in two days to be sent to prison while his case is investigated.
The court later ordered the detention of former trade minister Amara Benyounes over alleged involvement in corruption, private channel Ennahar TV reported.
A statement on Thursday by the prosecutor’s office said that Sellal is being investigated for “corruption and dilapidation of public funds” among other things.
Sellal, 70, was questioned earlier Thursday by an investigative judge at the Supreme Court in cases related to waste of public money, abuse of power and illegal favouritism, Algeria‘s official news agency APS reported, without providing further details.
Benyounes, who served under Sellal from April 2014 to July 2015, is also the leader of the pro-government party the Algerian Popular Movement.
Sellal’s detention came a day after former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, a leading political figure forced out in March, was sent to the El Harrach prison – in which Sellal was jailed.
The two officials both served as prime ministers under long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to resign in April in the wake of nationwide protests and pressure from the country’s powerful military.
