The Oran Court has handed down harsher sentences in a high-profile armed robbery case in Bir El Djir, raising the main defendant's prison term to seven years and issuing a ten-year sentence in absentia for his accomplice.
The Court of Oran has significantly increased the sentences for those involved in a major armed robbery in Bir El Djir, Algeria. The main defendant, identified as M.H., saw his prison term raised from five to seven years following an appeal. His accomplice, who remains at large, was sentenced in absentia to ten years in prison, with an arrest warrant issued against him. Both men were convicted of forming a criminal association and committing aggravated theft with the use of a firearm. The robbery targeted two senior employees of a private company, with the stolen sum exceeding 1.6 billion centimes, along with company cheques and official stamps.
Robbery Planned with Insider Knowledge
The incident unfolded rapidly on a street in Bir El Djir. The company manager had stopped to hand over documents to a colleague when a rental car pulled up beside them. Two masked individuals exited the vehicle, sprayed the employees with tear gas, and threatened them with a firearm. The attackers seized a bag containing the large sum of cash and company documents before fleeing the scene. Investigators quickly responded, and the victims provided consistent accounts of the event.
Surveillance Footage and Forensic Evidence Key to Conviction
Progress in the investigation came after surveillance cameras from a nearby residence captured the vehicle used in the robbery. The car was traced to a rental agency, which identified the client as M.H. Both victims immediately recognized M.H. as a former colleague who had worked with them for five months, giving him knowledge of the company's routines and payroll dates. Upon arrest, M.H. named his accomplice, B.A.A., who remains on the run.
During the appeal, M.H. claimed he only rented the car as a favor and denied involvement in the robbery. However, geolocation data from his mobile phone placed him at the scene during the crime. The prosecution requested a ten-year sentence and an arrest warrant for the fugitive. The court ultimately increased M.H.'s sentence to seven years and confirmed the ten-year sentence in absentia for B.A.A.
Implications for Security and Legal Enforcement
This case highlights the role of surveillance technology and forensic evidence in Algeria's criminal justice system. The use of video footage and mobile phone data proved decisive in securing convictions. The severity of the sentences reflects the judiciary's intent to deter violent crime and reinforce public security. The search for the second suspect continues, with authorities maintaining an active warrant for his arrest.
