The trial of former Algerian officials and officers, some of them linked to former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is set to start on Sept. 23.
The suspects have been accused by the military command of conspiring against the army and the state.
Lawyer and rights activist Boudjemaa Ghashir told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the military court in Blida, south of Algiers, informed him on Thursday in his capacity as the lawyer of Algerian Workers' Party (PT) President Louisa Hanoune that her trial will start after 12 days.
The trial of others in the same case will start on Sept. 23 as well, Ghashir added.
They are Said Bouteflika, the youngest brother of the former president, and two former intelligence chiefs, Generals Bachir Tartag and Mohamed Mediene.
Last April and May, the military judiciary ordered the four’s detention.
Ghashir also noted that Sep. 23 would witness the start of the trial of former Algerian defense minister Major General Khaled Nezzar and his son Lotfi in addition to businessman Farid Benhamdine. The three are facing charges related to Said Bouteflika’s case.
The military judiciary issued last month an international arrest warrant against Nezzar and his son, who reside in Spain. They are facing charges of conspiring against the army and disturbing public order.
The case goes back to the end of March when Said intensified calls and meetings with current and former regime officials along with politicians seeking their advice on choosing a president for the transitional phase.
This occurred while protesters were demanding Bouteflika to step down after announcing his candidacy for a fifth term.
A reliable source revealed that former president of Algeria Liamine Zeroual informed Army Chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah that Mediene and Said intended to remove him from power. The former Algerian defense minister, also, affirmed these attempts.
Hanoune was arrested because she attended a meeting called for by Said in the presence of Mediene to discuss ruling arrangements after Bouteflika’s departure.
Meanwhile, Karim Tabou, a prominent opposition figure was ordered by a court to be held in custody on charges of "contributing to weakening the army's morale", a lawyer and activist close to him said.
