Update @13: 40 – According to what the Radio Jawhara FM reported on its site this Saturday, the prosecution also decided to release the former director general of studies at the Ministry of Equipment, who had assigned the project to the architect, as well as the Director General of Civil Constructions of the same Ministry, who had validated his realization.
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The prosecution near the tribunal de first instance of Sousse 1 ordered the release of the architect who carried out the study of extension and development of the Sousse Olympic stadium, after having retained it the day before as part of irregularities linked to the execution of the project.
In the same context, two senior officials from the Ministry of Equipment were also placed in police custody, reports Mosaique FM: former director general of studies, who had awarded the architect’s market, and the CEO of Civil Construction, who had validated the revised version No. 03 of the project.
A former Minister of Equipment as well as two other Directors General will also be referred to presentation. The investigation is currently being carried out by the research brigade of the National Guard of Sousse.
Since its reopening during the play-offs of the 2021-2022 season, the Sousse Olympic stadium has been the subject of strong criticism: visibility problems from certain stands, safety barriers deemed embarrassing, lawn state … These anomalies have been attributed, rightly or wrongly, to the study office led by the architect Adel Hidar.
In February 2023, the latter had released a video on social networks in which he detailed the responsibilities of each actor of the project and pointed out institutional failures. He noted in particular that the inclination of the stands had not been modified by the work, which means that the visibility had not been altered. For him, the problem comes rather from the absence of stadiers capable of correctly orienting the supporters, as provided for in the signage plan which he had given to the municipality – without effect, for lack of implementation.
Wave of support after police custody of the architect of the Olympic stadium
Regarding the metallic barriers criticized to obstruct the view, the architect explains that they are not in question: it is the flags installed by the supporters who hamper the vision in certain areas. Likewise, spectators who stand upside down the stands unintentionally block sight of those sitting behind, contributing to a bad experience that the design office says they cannot assume.
Since the announcement of police custody, a wave of support has been formed around the architect. On social networks, many messages express their solidarity with Adel Hidar, denouncing an attempt to designate him as a scapegoat for a site with multiple responsibilities. Several votes call for a impartial survey and better management of public projects.
This new episode highlights the persistent challenges linked to the governance of major infrastructure projects in Tunisia, in particular in terms of clarity of responsibilities and transparency in the validation and monitoring processes.
