ALGIERS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sidi M'hamed Court in Algiers put under custody 19 people as part of a corruption-related probe with 45 suspects, including a former prime minister as well as current and former ministers, a statement issued by the court said on Tuesday.
The case involves prominent businessman Mahieddine Tahkout who has been incarcerated on Monday, the statement said.
It added that the court has put 19 people under investigative custody and seven people have been placed under probation while 19 others benefited from a provisional release.
A total of six companies whose identities were not revealed were also charged with involvement in illegal activities with the main suspect Tahkout, known for monopolizing the university transport market and owning an auto assembly plant.
Tahkout, two of his brothers, his son, three of his employees, along with 38 officials working at various ministerial and public service departments, are sued on charges of corruption.
The source specifies that the file of nine defendants was transferred to the public prosecutor at the Court of Algiers, including a former prime minister, two former ministers and a current minister.
The defendants are accused of money laundering, embezzlement, corruption and concealing wrongful origin of their revenues in favor of a group of criminals, as well as inciting public servants to exploit their post to benefit from undue and illegal privileges.
