The Algiers court of Chéraga has sentenced four individuals to prison terms for stealing 1800 mobile phones from a company specializing in importing electrical appliances and equipment. The defendants, including two company employees and two mobile phone shop owners, were found guilty of theft and related charges. The sentences range from one to three years in prison, with fines of up to 300,000 Algerian dinars.
According to the court, the theft was discovered during an inventory check, which revealed that a large quantity of mobile phones had gone missing. The investigation found that the stolen phones were worth approximately 5 billion centimes. The company's manager reported that the thefts occurred over several months, with the stolen phones being sold through a network of accomplices.
One of the defendants, a company employee named R. Fatiha, confessed to stealing the phones and selling them to a colleague, S. B. She claimed to have received the phones from her supervisor, who told her they were defective. Fatiha sold the phones for between 8,000 and 10,000 dinars each.
The other defendants denied any wrongdoing, with S. B claiming he did not know the phones were stolen. The two mobile phone shop owners were accused of not reporting the theft and hiding stolen goods. Their lawyer argued that they were not aware the phones were stolen and had received them as defective devices.
The prosecution had requested harsher sentences, including seven years in prison for the two main defendants. However, the court ultimately sentenced them to three years in prison, with fines of 300,000 dinars. The two mobile phone shop owners received sentences of one year in prison, with fines of 100,000 dinars.
The court also ordered the defendants to pay 200 million centimes in compensation to the company. The company's lawyer argued that the theft had caused significant financial losses and damage to the company's reputation. The defendants' lawyers had requested more lenient sentences, citing their clients' lack of prior convictions and difficult working conditions.
The case highlights the issue of theft and corruption in Algerian businesses. The authorities have been cracking down on such crimes, with several high-profile cases reported in recent months. The sentences handed down in this case are seen as a deterrent to others who might consider engaging in similar activities.
Key points
- Four individuals sentenced to prison terms for stealing 1800 mobile phones from Algerian company.
- Defendants received sentences ranging from one to three years in prison, with fines of up to 300,000 Algerian dinars.
- Court ordered defendants to pay 200 million centimes in compensation to the company.
