Algeria: Harsh Prison Sentences Handed Down Over 2025 BAC Exam Fraud and Leaks

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Authorities Crack Down on Cheating Networks with Immediate Trials, Prison Sentences Up to 5 Years, and Heavy Fines as Part of a National Strategy to Protect Exam Integrity

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Algiers, Algeria | June 18th, 2025 — In a sweeping crackdown on cheating during the 2025 Baccalaureate (BAC) examinations, multiple Algerian tribunals have delivered firm verdicts, sentencing several individuals to prison terms ranging from one to five years, accompanied by steep financial penalties. The rulings reflect a zero-tolerance policy toward violations that threaten the integrity of national education and public trust.

On Tuesday, June 17, judicial authorities in Barika (Batna), M’sila, and Ghardaïa issued arrest warrants, ordered pre-trial detentions, and imposed financial fines up to 500,000 DA in cases involving the fraudulent use of remote communication technologies, including the leaking and dissemination of exam materials via social media during the live sessions of the BAC exams.

Barika: Two-Year Sentence for Live Dissemination

In Barika, two candidates were apprehended for using digital communication tools to leak exam content during the BAC session on June 17. The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that one suspect was immediately tried and sentenced to two years in prison, with one year suspended, alongside a 250,000 DA fine. The court also ordered his detention and confiscation of all devices used in the act.

In another case, seven suspects, three of whom remain at large, face charges for leaking exam questions. The trial of the four individuals present has been postponed to June 24, with all four placed under provisional detention.

M’sila: Five-Year Sentence for Publishing Arabic Exam Paper

In M’sila, between June 15 and 16, five separate cases of exam fraud were registered, including the unauthorized publication of two exam subjects. Defendants identified by initials were arrested for uploading the Arabic and Islamic education exam subjects in real time via social media.

The court handed down a five-year prison sentence and a 500,000 DA fine to the main suspect (B.A), who was immediately remanded. Others received one-year sentences and fines of 300,000 DA, with several placed in detention and one suspect placed under judicial supervision.

Ghardaïa: Five Years for Sharing Math Exam Online

In Ghardaïa, on June 16, a special cybersecurity unit uncovered the illegal publication of the mathematics exam for the foreign languages stream on a digital platform. The suspect (H.T) was tried the next day under immediate appearance procedures and received a five-year prison sentence and a 50,000 DA fine. He was also remanded into custody on the spot.

National Strategy to Uphold Exam Integrity

These convictions mark the strongest judicial response in recent years to academic dishonesty, as Algerian authorities remain determined to safeguard the sanctity of the national examination system. The Public Prosecutor’s Offices involved emphasized that these actions fall within a broader national strategy to deter fraud, ensure equal opportunity, and preserve the credibility of academic credentials.

Parents and educators have largely welcomed the tough measures, while judicial officials reminded the public that any breach of exam security is not only a criminal offense but a direct attack on the future of the nation’s youth.

Students and citizens are urged to report any suspicious activity and are warned against using or spreading exam content online. The judiciary reiterated that digital platforms are being closely monitored and that offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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