The Algerian court has postponed the trial of Arezki Berraki, former Minister of Hydraulics, and several others accused of corruption in the Medjez B'gar dam project in Guelma. The trial, initially set to take place on October 7, has been rescheduled for October 20. The decision was made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court in Sidi M'hamed due to the absence of several parties and at the request of the defense for additional time.
The case involves allegations of corruption in the reinforcement of the Medjez B'gar dam, which reportedly cost the public treasury around 600 billion centimes. Berraki is being tried alongside the former and current directors general of the National Agency of Dams and Transfers, as well as several other individuals. The investigation, conducted by the regional judicial police service in Algiers, focused on the suspicious conditions under which the project was awarded to a private company.
The initial contract for the project was valued at approximately 130 billion centimes, but its cost skyrocketed to over 580 billion centimes after three additional agreements were signed. These agreements, according to investigators, were not approved by the National Agency of Dams and Transfers and resulted in significant changes to the project's scope, including a modification from reinforcement to elevation of the dam.
The case is part of a broader pattern of corruption in Algeria's water sector. In July 2026, several individuals, including a former director of water resources, officials from the Algerian Water and Electricity Corporation (ADE), and entrepreneurs, were sentenced to prison terms of up to seven years for corruption related to a canalization project in Béchar.
The trial's postponement is the latest development in a long-running case that has garnered significant attention in Algeria. The country's authorities have been cracking down on corruption in recent years, with a focus on high-profile cases involving government officials and business leaders.
The Medjez B'gar dam project was intended to support agricultural irrigation in the region. However, the project's significant cost overruns and allegations of corruption have raised questions about the management of public funds and the awarding of contracts in Algeria.
The trial's outcome will be closely watched, given the high-profile nature of the case and the government's efforts to combat corruption. The defendants face serious allegations, and the court's decision will likely have implications for those involved in the project and for the broader fight against corruption in Algeria.
Key points
- The trial of Arezki Berraki and others accused of corruption in the Medjez B'gar dam project has been postponed to October 20.
- The case involves allegations of corruption and significant cost overruns in a project intended to support agricultural irrigation in Guelma.
- The trial's postponement is due to the absence of several parties and at the request of the defense for additional time.
