Wife of former Spanish chancellor reportedly bought 120m dinars of property in Algiers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Maghreb Emergent
Spanish police say they have evidence of the purchase of at least six properties in Algiers between 2016 and 2021 by the wife of Vicente Moreno, former deputy head of Spain's consulate general. The purchases totalled 120 million dinars, about €784,000, according to the report submitted to Spanish justice.
Investigators from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit of the Spanish police say they have documentary evidence of the purchase of at least six properties in Algiers between 2016 and 2021 by Amina Nessrine Beljoudi, wife of Vicente Moreno, former deputy head of Spain's consulate general. The total amount reached 120 million dinars, or about €784,000, according to the report submitted to María Tardón, a judge at Spain's National Court, The Objective reports.
Amina Nessrine Beljoudi rejects these claims and her lawyer contests the two allegations against her: owning property in Algeria and working for BLS, a private provider responsible for visa appointments and the submission of applications. The police report also states that the couple allegedly own property in Portugal and that Beljoudi previously worked for BLS, when Vicente Moreno took up his post as head of visas in Algiers in 2007.
Six people are involved in the investigation. Vicente Moreno and local employee Mohamed Boutouchent were arrested in Spain at the end of April, while Moreno's wife was implicated at around the same time. Three consulate employees, including the secretary to the consul general and two visa service officers, were subsequently targeted in September. The judge is considering charges including money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation.
The network is suspected of selling Schengen visas for up to €25,000 per family, using documents that were unchecked or sometimes falsified. Some of the funds were allegedly laundered in Spain through vehicle purchases, according to investigators. Spain's Foreign Ministry repatriated Vicente Moreno to Madrid and announced a one-week inspection mission at the Algiers consulate, expected to begin on 20 September.
