Algeria – Criminal Court of Algiers on Monday sentenced Chouaib Oultache to capital punishment for the murder of former Police Chief Ali Tounsi, on 25 February 2010 at the headquarters of the police directorate.

The defendant was found guilty for premeditated homicide against Tounsi, attempted homicide against two senior officials of the police and the holding of a firearm without authorization.

The ruling given by the presiding judge Amar Belkherchi included compensation to the family of the murdered police chief.

Earlier, the representative of the Prosecutor-General demanded the death penalty against Oultache.

Tounsi was appointed head of general directorate of the Algiers National Security in 1994 when armed extremist groups were at their prime in the country. He was able to establish security in the capital after two al-Qaeda suicide attacks in April and December of 2007.