On 22 April, five Algerian billionaires appeared in court to face charges from the general prosecutor following their arrest as part of an anti-graft investigation, Ennahar TV reported. The five arrested were Issad Rebrab, considered Algeria’s wealthiest businessman, and four brothers from the Kouninef family said to be close to ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s inner circle. State television Ennahar TV reported that prosecutors are investigating “insider influence to obtain undue advantages and misappropriation of real estate.” Algeria’s Supreme Court has started investigating cases of alleged corruption relating to Chakib Khelil, energy minister from November 1999 to May 2010. The cases include capital movements and contracts signed by state energy firm Sonatrach with two foreign companies. An Algerian court has already summoned former PM Ahmed Ouyahia and current Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal, the two close to Bouteflika, in an investigation into suspected misuse of public money. For a tenth consecutive Friday, demonstrations in Algeria’s major cities have carried on as many Algerians continue to demand the removal of the elite and prosecution of those they see as corrupt.