Former police chief Abdelghani Hamel was brought to court on Thursday for his recent statements on the involvement of several officials in smuggling 700 kilograms of cocaine shipped from Brazil, according to an Algerian judicial source. The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the questioning of the judge at the Algiers court revolved around Hamels statements, which were the direct reason for his dismissal in June last year. The statements were considered directed at the chief of army Ahmed Gaid Salah. Earlier, Hamel told reporters that if someone wants to fight corruption, they must not be corrupt themselves. The former chief was speaking after his son and personal driver were named in the investigations conducted by the gendarmerie in the cocaine case. It was understood that the statement was addressed at Gendarmerie Chief of Staff General Ghali Balqsir. However, Hamel have actually meant Chief of Staff Saleh, since he ordered the investigation. Hamel said that the initial investigations violated the law. He also hailed the judges for their ruling in the case, who also refused to accuse Hamel’s son and driver. The source noted that some indications show that Saleh is behind the investigation against Hamel, especially that last week he made a statement about the cocaine case, adding that no charges have been brought against the former police chief, but he was visibly annoyed as he was leaving the judge’s office. The main suspect in the cocaine case is the well-known businessman, Kamal Shekhi, known as the butcher, who is currently in prison. Hamel was questioned by Tipaza court last week in the case of “illegally obtaining synthetic drugs”, and his son was also accused of being involved in the case, but he left the judge’s office without being charged. Former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia last Tuesday aslo went to the court after corruption charges were filed against him. He was received at the Algiers court by hundreds of protesters who chanted against him and called him a thief. In other news, hundreds of Cevital workers protested in Bejaia demanding the immediate release of the company’s chairman, Issad Rebrab, who has been in custody for two weeks after being accused of “suspected of having made fake statements concerning the transfer of funds to and from abroad.” The demonstrators chanted against the army chief saying he held Rebrab to settle old scores, calling for the prosecution of the “real gang members” namely Saeed Bouteflika, brother of the former president.