Algeria: Appeal court upholds sentences against Said Bouteflika, Gen. Toufik, Tartag

An appeal court in Algiers upheld 15-year in jail sentence against Said Bouteflika, the brother of former President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika, and against the former commander of intelligence services, Mohamed Medienne aka Toufik.

The two men, in addition to General Athmane “Bachir” Tartag, were handed 15 years in jail sentences in September for plotting against the army and the state.

Louisa Hanoune, former Secretary of the left-wing Workers’ Party, also sentenced 15 years in prison in connection with the case, saw her jail term reduced to a three year suspended sentence and 9 months in prison. As she had spent more than 9 months behind bars, she was freed.

The four were detained following Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s resignation, under public and army pressure. Former Chief of Staff, Gaid Salah who died in December, forced the former President to step down early April amid public discontent against the regime.