An Algerian court has sentenced businessman Réda Kouninef and his co-defendants to up to ten years in prison for money laundering, along with heavy fines and confiscations.
Separately, a new development is underway in another corruption case involving Saïda Neghza.
The court of the Sidi M’hamed Economic and Financial Criminal Division passed the sentences on Tuesday.
Réda Kouninef and his co-defendants were prosecuted for money laundering and concealment of criminal proceeds.
The court indicated that the sentences reached up to ten years of strict criminal imprisonment, coupled with the confiscation of all seized assets and holdings.
According to the Arabic-language media outlet Echourouk Online, the judge of the second section of the Economic and Financial Criminal Division sentenced Réda Kouninef and his son-in-law, N. M., to ten years with strict criminal imprisonment and a fine of eight million Algerian Dinars (DZD), with confirmation and maintenance of the arrest warrant issued against the latter.
Another son-in-law, N. Abdelaziz, was sentenced to four years in prison and an identical fine, also coupled with the confiscation of seized assets.
The court further ordered Kouninef to pay 30 million DZD, and his son-in-law and his son to pay 10 million DZD each, as reparations to the public treasury. These decisions follow the public prosecutor’s requisitions, formulated on December 23, which had requested maximum penalties, the confiscation of all seized assets, and damages estimated at 500 billion centimes (5 billion DZD).
In parallel, another corruption case is mobilising the judiciary in Algiers. The Algiers Judicial Council was scheduled to examine a request for release on Tuesday, filed by Saïda Neghza, who has been detained for nearly seven months at Koléa prison, citing health reasons.
The former head of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises is invoking Article 208 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The defense argues that Ms. Neghza’s health has seriously deteriorated, supported by medical reports indicating pathologies requiring specialised care not available in detention.
As a reminder, she was sentenced in July 2025 to penalties reaching four years in prison in a separate case linked to the purchase of signatures from elected officials during the 2024 presidential election, a verdict that is currently awaiting a cassation appeal.
MK/sf/lb/as/APA