An Algerian man could face three years in jail for allegedly filming police committing theft while they were supposed to be controlling rioting football fans.

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The public prosecutor in the southern Algerian town of Ghardaïa on Tuesday called for Youcef, whose family name has not been made public, to be sentenced to three years in prison for “publishing videos touching on the national interest”.

The 47-year-old denies even shooting the film but has been in prison awaiting trial since 27 March.

The video was made last November when violence broke out in Geurrara, a town about 100 kilometres from Ghardaïa, between supporters of two football teams, one backed by members of the Berber ethnic group, the other by Arabs.

A resident was killed during two days of riot and local people who were sick of the violence started filming the events.

The offending video appeared to show police officers in the act of theft.

It was posted on social networks and broadcast by the Ennahar TV channel.

Police claim the footage is fake and is an insult to agents of the state and against the national interest.

Other videos appeared to show police taking sides in the clashes.

The verdict will be announced on Monday 9 June.



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