Said Bouteflika, the brother of former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, refused to answer the judge’s questions on Saturday, when he appeared as a witness in a trial for corruption of former leaders in Algeria.
Sentenced to 15 years in prison in September for conspiracy against state authority, he was considered the great manitou of the « Bouteflika » system, after the debilitating cerebral vascular accident suffered by his brother in 2013.
He is accused of asking businessmen to raise money to finance the fifth term campaign of his brother Abdelaziz Bouteflika earlier this year. When questioned by the judge about the amount of money and the instructions he gave, Said Bouteflika remained silent.
The judge ordered that he be returned to the Blida military prison where he is serving his sentence.
This first trial for corruption of former Algerian leaders is held in Algiers since December 4, the indictment of the prosecutor must take place this Sunday.
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