Khalifa receives life sentence in absentia
2007-03-23
An Algerian court in Blida sentenced the Algerian tycoon Abdelmoumen Rafik Khalifa to life in prison in absentia on Thursday (March 22nd) in a fraud trial centring on the country's largest financial scandal. Khalifa, who has resided in the UK since 2003, was charged with criminal association, corruption, abuse of trust, forgery and swindling, Judge Fatiha Brihimi said in passing sentence. The court also sentenced six other defendants, including former central bank governor Abdelouahab Keramane, reportedly living in France, to 20 years in prison in absentia. His brother, former Industry Minister and former representative of Khalifa Airways in Milan Abdennour Keramane received a 10-year prison term. The trial started on January 8th for offences related to the bankruptcy of Khalifa Bank, and will be followed by more proceedings regarding Khalifa Airways and other branches of the group, including two television channels and several other companies. (APS, Reuters, BBC, AFP)
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