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Tunisian court acquits ex-security chief

12 August 2011 17:32 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Tunisian court has acquitted the former presidential security chief who was charged with forging passports and some other serious crimes, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Ali Seriati was accused of having forged passports so the relatives of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife could flee the country in the wake of a popular uprising in January.

However, Seriati remains in custody for more serious charges including plotting against state security.

The court gave prison terms of between four months and six years to 25 members of Ben Ali’s relatives and extended family.

They were arrested shortly after Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

They were charged --some in absentia-- with attempting to flee Tunisia and for illegal possession of jewels and foreign currency.

Ben Ali himself has already been sentenced to over 50 years behind bars in two separate trials.

The ousted Tunisian president’s 23-year rule was marked by repeated human rights violations and corruption.