Ben Ali sentenced to 35 years in jail

Former Tunisian president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, found guilty of theft and possession of large sums of foreign currency The former Tunisian president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife have been sentenced to 35 years in jail after being found guilty of theft in absentia by a Tunisian court. Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, was accused of theft and unlawful possession of large sums of foreign currency, jewellery, archaeological artefacts, drugs and weapons. The case was brought in absentia after Ben Ali fled the country on 14 January following mass protests across the country. Ben Ali, who has since said he was deceived into leaving Tunisia, has accumulated vast wealth from his involvement in some of the country’s biggest businesses during his 23-year reign. In addition to the lengthy sentences, the court ordered that the former president and his wife pay fines totalling 91m Tunisian dinars (£41m) and while the trial has moved swiftly, the court said the judgement only covered part of the charges against him and would rule on others at a later date. Husni Beji, one of five lawyers representing Ben Ali, told Reuters before the hearing started: “We are going to ask for an adjournment … I want to convince Ben Ali to attend the trial.” Judge Touhami Hafian, sitting in the palace of justice in the Tunisian capital, said earlier in the day that it was “a normal trial” but events will be closely watched by those in Egypt as former president Hosni Mubarak is set to stand trial over the killing of protesters in the Arab uprising that also ousted him from power. Ben Ali and his wife are not the only members of The Family – as they are known in Tunisia – to stand trial since the popular Arab spring protests. More than 30 members of Ben Ali and Trabelsi’s family were arrested after the fall of the Family, as they are known in Tunisia, some of whom have been since charged with economic crimes and abuse of power. Among the assets left by Ben Ali that the courts said they were seeking to recover were luxury villas as well as interests in hotels banks and pharmaceuticals. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali Tunisia Arab and Middle East unrest Africa Jo Adetunji guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 20, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.