Abdelhakim Bettache, the former mayor of Alger-Centre, is facing a prosecution demand for a seven-year prison sentence. The charges stem from a stalled cooperative housing project involving 1,400 units, which has remained unfinished for over 12 years. The case involves approximately 2,000 victims who paid deposits ranging from 800,000 to 1 million dinars. Investigations revealed that the real estate developer, Nourredine Leklak, did not own the project's land in Saoula when collecting funds in 2016. Plaintiffs allege that the former mayor’s actions in facilitating the list of subscribers to the developer led to the widespread fraud. A court date for the verdict has been set for October 15, with victims demanding compensation for their decade-long ordeal.