Africa

Africa

Tunisia’s Ben Ali sentenced in absentia to 35 years in jail

21 June 2011 08:25 (UTC +04:00)

Ben Ali, who has been in Saudi Arabia since he was forced from power, was found guilty after just one day of deliberation of theft and of illegally possessing jewelry and large sums of cash.

The same sentence was handed down to his wife Leila Trabelsi, a former hairdresser whose lavish lifestyle and clique of wealthy relatives were symbols of the corruption of the Ben Ali era for many Tunisians.

Ben Ali and his wife flew to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after mass protests against his 23-year rule. The Tunisian government said in February it had asked Saudi Arabia to extradite Ben Ali.

During his time in office, members of his extended family accumulated fortunes while his security forces routinely arrested anyone who dared to dissent.