ALGIERS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Algerian former Finance Minister Karim Djoudi on Sunday was placed under judicial control after being heard by examining magistrate at the Supreme Court over corruption charges.
State media outlets reported that Djoudi is suspected of embezzlement, abuse of power, and providing undue and illegal privileges.
Djoudi is the second former senior official to be placed under judicial control, after former Transport and Public Works Minister Abdelghani Zaalane, who was also suspected of being involved in corruption cases.
In fact, a series of judicial investigations have been launched by the Algerian justice authorities amid popular protests denouncing bad governance, corruption and dirty money, demanding the trial of all those who have been involved in corruption cases.
Several former and current senior officials are targeted. Two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, are held in custody, along with several other businessmen, who are mainly charged with corruption, abuse of power and squandering public funds.
On May 26, 12 corruption-linked files belonging to former senior politicians, under the administration of ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, were transferred to the Attorney General at the Supreme Court, pending trials.
