Algerian prosecutors seek 12 years for milk price manipulators
12 years in prison and a five million dinar fine are sought for defendants accused of diverting subsidized milk.
Algerian prosecutors are seeking a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and a five million dinar fine for each defendant in a case involving the manipulation of subsidized milk. The accused appeared before the El Harrach court on Tuesday, November 3, facing charges related to disrupting food supplies and market prices.
The prosecution's charges include illicit speculation on state-subsidized milk powder, conducting commercial transactions outside legal distribution channels, and operating without a business registration. Additional accusations concern public hygiene, including transporting perishable goods in unrefrigerated vehicles and storing sensitive products improperly.
The case also involves operating a classified facility without administrative authorization and lacking the mandatory health accreditation for handling animal products. The public prosecutor requested that the fine be immediately enforceable.
Why it mattersAlgerians face potential disruptions to the prices and availability of subsidized milk, a staple food.