Algerian journalist Nazim Bessol has confirmed that Rulani Mokwena was detained and received a two-month suspended prison sentence after being found guilty for attempting to take a foreign currency out of the the country.
Mokwena had parted ways with MC Alger over the weekend after agreeing to take over Libyan giants Al Ittihad.
However, when the South African attempted to leave Algeria he was detained at the Houari Boumediene Airport on Sunday after being found with too much cash as the North African country has strict laws regarding taking currency out of the currency.
Bessol explained the case on Thabiso Mosia’s radio show on Monday evening, saying Mokwena was initially detained but his case was already heard at the Dar El Beida Court, where he received his suspended prison sentence.
“Mokwena was detained after being found with 15 000 US Dollars in cash. In Algeria you can’t travel with more than $7 500 … But what I know is that he’s now been released and is waiting to depart for Libya via Turkey,” he said, as quoted by Mosia.
“We have just received an update from the court that Mokwena was prosecuted and has been fined and also handed a two-month suspended sentence after being found with 14 200 euros (=$15 000).
“He was prosecuted for attempting to take foreign currency out of the country.”
Mokwena will now make his way to Libya to be unveiled by the 18-time league champions based in Tripoli after agreeing to a two-year deal with an option to extend to lead the new ambitious project.
Al Al Ittihad Mokwena will again reunite with Thembinkosi Lorch as well as Stephane Aziz Ki who were both signed from Wydad Athletic Club in January.
