Rulani Mokwena Hit With Suspended Jail Sentence In Algeria Over Undeclared Cash

South African football coach Rulani Mokwena has been handed a two-month suspended prison sentence in Algeria after authorities found undeclared foreign currency in his possession at an airport in Algiers.

The cash — amounting to €14,200 (roughly R274,000), although some reports place the figure closer to R300,000 — was discovered during a security check at Houari Boumediene Airport over the weekend.

According to Algerian media reports, the money was confiscated by authorities after Mokwena failed to declare the funds as required by local regulations.

Algerian court issues suspended sentence Against Rulani Mokwena

Mokwena, who recently left MC Alger to join Libyan side Al Ittihad, was detained at the airport after officials discovered the cash in his possession.

The South African Embassy in Algeria confirmed that it had been informed about the coach’s detention.

Authorities later imposed a two-month suspended prison sentence and issued a fine of 50,000 Algerian dinars — just under R6,500.

The penalty means Mokwena will not serve time in prison unless he commits another offence during the suspension period.

Lawyer explains strict currency declaration rules

Finance lawyer Tebogo Malatji said such penalties are common when travellers fail to declare money when entering or leaving a country. “Currency is considered as part of capital assets,” Malatji said.

“If you have landed [in a foreign country], you declare the currency so they know what you are bringing in from whatever destination you are coming from.”

Malatji added that authorities typically detain travellers while they investigate the origin of the funds.

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“If you have landed and you haven’t declared currency, authorities will detain you so they can interrogate the source of the funds, the same as when you leave,” he said.

“They might hit you with a penalty or fine for failure to prove the source of the funds was legitimate. You will be detained for as long as they complete the initial investigation and decide to say you leave with the funds, or do you leave them behind?”

Mokwena expected to start new chapter in Libya

Reports suggest Mokwena was unaware of Algeria’s strict currency declaration rules when he travelled through the airport.

The former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns coach is expected to continue with his move to Al Ittihad.

At the Libyan club, he is set to reunite with South African winger Thembinkosi Lorch, who previously played under him.