Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A demonstrator holds a poster showing Ben Ali outside the Tunis Criminal Court which is hearing two embezzlement, money laundering and drug trafficking cases against Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Hassene Dridi/AP/Press Association Images
tunisia

Tunisian ex-president sentenced to jail

Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi were convicted in absentia.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT of Tunisia, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, and his wife Leila Trabelsi have been sentenced in absentia to 35 years in jail.

The couple received the sentence for embezzlement and the misuse of public funds.

The case centred on $27 million (€18.97 million) worth of cash and jewels that was reported to be found inside one of their palaces.

A second case was taken against Ben Ali (74) in relation to the possession of drugs and weapons. This was postponed.

The ex-president was fined 50 million dinars (about $36 million) and his wife was fined 41 million dinars.

The jewels that were found in their palace were aid to have historic value.

Ben Ali called the case a “shameful masquerade of the justice of the victorious” and emphasised that he had devoted his life to his country.

He and his wife’s family, the Trabelsi clan, have been accused of treating Tunisia as their personal property to amass money, privilege and power.

The husband and wife fled to Saudi Arabia in January.

More serious charges, including plotting against the security of the state and murder, will be dealt with at future trials.

Judicial authorities say that Ben Ali and his entourage are implicated in 93 civil affaires and 182 others that fall under military jurisdiction.

He is expected to have to answer for the deaths of 300 people during the uprisings.

Monday’s trial included, for the first time, TV cameras in the packed courtroom.

Today, the former leader insisted he was “tricked” into leaving the country, saying he intended to return on the same plane after dropping his family to Saudi Arabia but the pilot disobeyed orders.

- AP

Read more:  Ben Ali goes on trial>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
2
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.