ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria’s finance minister and ex police chief appeared in court on Monday, joining a list of powerful figures to face judicial investigations since mass protests forced the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika this month. Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal – a former central bank governor who only got the job from Bouteflika last month – appeared in Algiers as part of an investigation into suspected misuse of public funds, state TV reported. Under the Algerian legal system judges can look into ongoing investigations and decide whether to put people in custody or release them until inquiries are complete. Bouteflika resigned on April 2 under pressure from the army, but the protests have continued with calls for a handover to a new civilian-led government. At least five billionaires, some of them close to Bouteflika, have been placed in custody accused of involvement in corruption scandals.

Source: Egypt Independent April 29, 2019 12:00 UTC