Two managers from the private channel KBC, owned by the El Khabar group, have been in custody since June 24th.
KBC’s “Ki Hna Ki Nass”, hosted by Mustapha Kessaci
Mehdi Benaissa, the channel’s director and manager of Ness Prod, and Riad Hartouf, head of production, were remanded in custody on Sunday June 26th on the orders of the investigating magistrate at the Sidi M’Hamed court. They are accused of “false statements” and “complicity in abuse of office”.
The arrests come after the police shut down the KBC studio on June 18th – where the Ramadan political chat show “Ki Hna Ki Nass” was recorded – its format inspired by Canal Plus’ “Grand Journal”. Then on June 23rd the recording of a satirical programme, “Ness Stah”, broadcast during Ramadan every year since 2013, was interrupted by the police. Both programmes are currently at a standstill, since their authorisation to film was withdrawn.
Nora Nedjai, a manager at the Ministry of Culture, was also arrested and put under investigation for “abuse of office”. She had allegedly granted filming permits to both of the programmes in this affair. She risks a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while Mehdi Benaissa and Riad Hartouf each face up to 3 years behind bars.
The El Khabar group’s lawyers have appealed against their clients’ detention. Their appeal will be heard on July 10th.
Sources : Al Huffington Post, TSA Algérie, Le Midi Libre, Mondafrique, El Watan
