Karim Djoudi, former finance minister, and Amar Tou, former transport minister, are suspected of abuse of power, violation of public procurement procedures in a bid to sign contracts illegally, and providing unjustified advantages to others, according to state media outlets.

The charges refer to the case of businessman Mourad Oulmi, CEO of Volkswagen-SOVAC cars assembly plant, who is also tried by the court over charges of getting illegal privileges and squandering public funds.

These two former ministers added to the list of senior officials who have already been placed under judicial control, including former transport and public works minister, Abdelghani Zaalane.

A series of judicial investigations have been launched by the Algerian justice authorities amid popular protests denouncing bad governance, corruption and dirty money, demanding the trial of all those who have been involved in corruption cases.

Several former and current senior officials are targeted, including two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, who are held in custody, together with several other businessmen, who are mainly charged of corruption, abuse of power and squandering public funds.

On May 26, 12 corruption-linked files belonging to former senior politicians, who were in the government of ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, were transferred to the Attorney General at the Supreme Court, pending trials.

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