Baha Eddine Tliba, the billionaire member of the Algerian parliament representing the eastern city of Annaba appears to be on the radar screen of the Ministry of Justice. The latter officially asked on Monday the Algerian parliament to lift the parliamentary immunity Tliba has enjoyed for many years as an MP. Tliba is a controversial businessman involved in many corruption cases that could send him to jail for a long period. He is involved in shadowy affairs from the giant steel plant of El Hadjar to various real estate development projects in eastern Algeria.
Pro-democracy and anti-government militants remain skeptical as to the ability of judges to go after Tliba considering his strong ties and allegiance to supporters of army chief Gaid Salah, including allegedly the General’s grandchildren. He is reported to be associated with Gaid Salah’s grandson in a company that had recently dissolved. A similar request to lift the immunity of Mohamed Djemai, the chief of the disgraced nationalist party FLN made the headlines of all newspapers in Algeria last week. Djemai, who also benefits from parliamentarian protection is widely considered by pro-democracy activists to be a major criminal figure and a baron of contraband trafficking in eastern Algeria.
