Algeria’s Electoral Corruption Scandal: Saïda Neghza, Belkacem Sahli, and Abdelhakim Hamadi Sent to Prison

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers Court of Justice Hands Down Heavy Sentences in Vote-Buying Case for the 2024 Presidential Race

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Algiers, Algeria | July 9th, 2025 —  The 10th Criminal Chamber of the Algiers Court of Justice issued decisive rulings on Wednesday, July 9, in the high-profile electoral corruption case related to the purchase of elected officials’ signatures for endorsements in the run-up to the 2024 Algerian presidential elections. Prominent businesswoman Saïda Neghza, political figure Belkacem Sahli, and former minister Abdelhakim Hamadi were all sentenced to four years in prison and fined one million Algerian dinars each. The court ordered their immediate detention in the courtroom.

The trial, described as marathon proceedings, extended over 24 hours before the court closed arguments and granted the defendants their final opportunity to speak, during which each one pleaded for justice. At the conclusion, the presiding judge announced the withdrawal of the panel for deliberation and directed police officers to detain the accused inside the courtroom pending the verdict.

After three hours of closed deliberation, the chamber returned to deliver its judgments. Alongside the sentences handed to Neghza, Sahli, and Hamadi, Neghza’s two sons received two-year prison sentences.

Additional sentences included three years in prison and one million dinars in fines for Mohamed B., Vice President of the Algerian Confederation of Enterprises, and Bilal F., while other defendants received sentences ranging from three years to two years to 18 months of firm imprisonment. Fines ranged between 20,000 dinars, 200,000 dinars, and up to 1 million dinars, depending on the degree of involvement.

However, not all defendants were convicted. Some walked free after being fully acquitted of all charges, in a ruling that brought relief to several defendants.

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