Ahmed Ouyahia was sentenced to 15 years and Abdelmalek Sellal to 12, the state-run APS news agency reported. Both served under longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika who was pushed out by protesters earlier this year.
A former industry minister, Abdeslam Bouchouareb, who is on the run abroad, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years, it added.
On Tuesday , the court pronounced the verdicts against Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, handing Ouyahia 15 years in prison and $16,000 in fines. Sellal was sentenced to 12 years in prison and given $8,000 in fines.
The trial was the first resulting from sweeping investigations into fraud allegations launched after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down in April in the face of mass protests that erupted in February against his bid for a fifth term. Both former prime ministers were longtime Bouteflika allies.
Noufal Abboud, executive director of the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation, told reporters that it was the first time any prime minister had been tried since independence from France in 1962.
"What is important to mention also is that these trials are selective and the enforcement is also selective. This comes in time when elections have already started outside Algeria among the Algerians overseas," said Abboud.
"And it is in the context in which the protests continue for over 40 weeks."
Some protesters outside the court shouted "Gang of gangsters!" and many waved or wore Algerian flags. Police surrounded the court because demonstrators were trying to get into the building see the trial in person.
Unusually, the trial was televised as authorities sought to show the public they are taking protesters' concerns about corruption seriously.
The former leaders were accused of abusing authority in a car manufacturing embezzlement scandal.
"It's a historic trial," law professor Rachid Lerari said. "Future leaders will think twice before using public money [for personal gain again]."
Protesters pushed out Bouteflika earlier this year in part because of anger at corruption.
Tuesday's sentences marked the second verdict since September, when a military court handed long prison terms to the once-untouchable intelligence chief and youngest brother of the former president.
Unusually, the trial was televised as authorities sought to show the public they are taking protesters' concerns about corruption seriously.
The former leaders were accused of abusing authority in a car manufacturing embezzlement scandal.
"It's a historic trial," law professor Rachid Lerari said. "Future leaders will think twice before using public money [for personal gain again]."
Protesters pushed out Bouteflika earlier this year in part because of anger at corruption.
Tuesday's sentences marked the second verdict since September, when a military court handed long prison terms to the once-untouchable intelligence chief and youngest brother of the former president.
No comments