The Algerian judiciary sentenced the son of the former Prime Minister and former presidential candidate, Ali Benflis, to 20 years in prison with immediate effect on charges of “high treason” and spying for foreign intelligence agents, potentially harming Algerian military or diplomatic interests, or its vital economic interests.
During his trial last Sunday, Wafik Benflis, a lawyer and the eldest son of the former Algerian Prime Minister, faced the judge confronting him with the charges leveled against him. The prosecution presented a CD containing materials extracted from his mobile phone, including photos of him with Israeli political and military officials, as well as French officials, which the prosecution claims “he sold them confidential information” related to a deal the Algerian government was preparing for, involving the purchase of 15 civilian aircraft.
Wafik Benflis is known for managing a consulting firm in Canada, where he has resided for many years, and he holds Canadian citizenship.
According to the Algerian newspaper “Echorouk,” the court, late the day before yesterday, upheld the judgments issued by the Court of First Instance in Casablanca against the Deputy Director in charge of development and foresight and a member of the Procurement Committee at Air Algérie, convicting him to 7 years of effective imprisonment. The court also reduced the sentence against a flight attendant of the same company from 7 years of effective imprisonment to 3 years of effective imprisonment.
The defendants denied all charges before the appellate court, both in general and in detail, with Benflis’s son insisting on his defense, denying all the facts mentioned in the initial investigation reports concerning him, saying, “I have not dealt with any military figures abroad or foreign intelligence. I am patriotic to the core and love my country,” affirming that “he comes from a revolutionary family, and it is impossible for him to betray Algeria.”
However, contrary to the first trial, the prosecution, based on photographic evidence, demanded the death penalty against Ali Benflis’s son, while the court requested a 20-year prison sentence.
