Algiers – An Algerian television station close to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's family reports that five senior Algerian army officers have been jailed after appearing before a magistrate on corruption charges.
Ennahar TV says the major-generals - three former military region heads, a former gendarme head, and the Defense Ministry's financial services chief faced charges Sunday of "illicit enrichment" and "use of a senior officer's function for personal purposes."
The officers are part of a wave of military officials who have been fired by the ailing 81-year-old president without explanation since summer. Bouteflika is deciding whether to seek a fifth term next year.
Algerian newspaper El-Watan said that the list of arrested senior army officers included Lahbib Centouf, former commander of the 1st military reion, Said Bey, former commander of the 2nd military region; Cerif Abderrazak, former commander of the 4th military region; Menad Nouba, former National Guard commandant and Boudjemaa Boudouaouar, former financial director at the Ministry of National Defence. Another senior officer with the rank of colonel has also been remanded in custody pending investigation.
The suspects appeared before the military court in Blida, which faced them with several counts of charges before remanding them all in prison.