ALGIERS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Algeria's justice minister said Tuesday that investigations into the financial scandal of the state-run energy group Sonatrach revealed that an international corruption network was behind the case.
Mohamed Charfi said "investigations revealed the existence of an international network of corruption that has links beyond our borders, with the goal of absorbing the substance of Sonatrach through financial mechanisms to cover up the committed financial crimes," TSA news website reported.
"Some 90 percent of the people involved in this corruption case have been identified," he said, adding that "there are those who are subject to international prosecution, and others are placed under judicial supervision."
Yet, he rejected to specify whether top officials were among the identified, stressing that "The government is determined to fight corruption through strict implementation of the law."
The Algerian judicial authorities have opened a probe over the corruption allegations involving Sonatrach and Italy's Eni SpA; and there have been rumors about the involvement of Algerian officials in the scandal when they were serving within Sonatrach and state institutions.
China's weekly story (2013 6.22-6.28)
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