{"id":444598,"date":"2011-06-20T20:40:18","date_gmt":"2011-06-20T20:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/06\/20\/tunisian-ex-president-sentenced\/"},"modified":"2011-06-20T20:40:18","modified_gmt":"2011-06-20T20:40:18","slug":"tunisian-ex-president-sentenced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/06\/20\/tunisian-ex-president-sentenced\/","title":{"rendered":"Tunisian ex-president sentenced"},"content":{"rendered":"

20 June 2011<\/span> Last updated at<\/span> 16:40 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A Tunisian court has sentenced ousted Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila to 35 years in prison for theft and other charges.<\/p>\n

The couple, who left Tunisia for Saudi Arabia after a popular uprising in January, were being tried in absentia.<\/p>\n

The court also ordered them to pay a $66m (\u00a341m) fine.<\/p>\n

The trial began on Monday on accusations of theft, corruption and drug smuggling, which the former president had denied.<\/p>\n

The presiding judge also said that a verdict on other charges – relating to illegal possession of drugs and weapons – would be announced on 30 June.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued earlier on Monday, Ben Ali said he had taken his family to Saudi Arabia on 14 January for safety.<\/p>\n

He said he had intended to return to Tunisia immediately, but the plane left without him, “disobeying my instructions”.<\/p>\n

Ben Ali’s lawyers had argued that the trial was an attempt by Tunisia’s interim government to divert attention from their failure to restore stability in the country.<\/p>\n

The Saudi authorities have yet to respond to an extradition request from Tunisia for the couple.<\/p>\n

‘A joke’<\/span><\/p>\n

The second case – targeting Ben Ali only – involves weapons and drugs reportedly found in his presidential palace.<\/p>\n

Continue reading the main story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cStart Quote<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

Ben Ali can go to London and no court of justice can recognise this judgement\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

End Quote<\/span> Akram Azouri<\/span> Ben Ali’s lawyer<\/span><\/div>\n

Almost 2kg (4.4lb) of drugs, believed to be cannabis, and $27m (\u00a316.4m; 18.7m euros) in cash were allegedly discovered.<\/p>\n

Speaking from Beirut, Ben Ali’s lawyer Akram Azouri told the BBC the sentence was “a joke”.<\/p>\n

“Don’t forget that the drug and the money were found three months after the president left his palace.<\/p>\n

“And don’t forget that I am the lawyer for President Ben Ali, and I requested the Tunisian authority to allow me to defend him, and the authorisation was not given to me. So this is a joke, this is a continuation of the political judgement, that has already been issued and executed.<\/p>\n

“And I’m very happy now I think that President Ben Ali can go to London and no court of justice can recognise this judgement,” Mr Azouri said.<\/p>\n

Ben Ali is also being investigated on suspicion of murder, abuse of power, trafficking of archaeological artefacts and money laundering.<\/p>\n

Speaking through his lawyers on Sunday, Ben Ali mounted a defence of his 23 years as president, which many Tunisians say was marked by autocratic rule, corruption and human rights abuses.<\/p>\n

“He would like everyone to know this criminal prosecution is only a false and shameful image of victor’s justice,” a statement said.<\/p>\n

“Is the purpose behind that [trial] to divert the attention of Tunisians from the turmoil that nobody can accuse him of or hold him responsible for?<\/p>\n

“He knows that every new political authority wants to blame its predecessor and hold it responsible for difficulties it fails to resolve.”<\/p>\n

The statement also appealed to Tunisians not to forget Ben Ali’s achievements.<\/p>\n

“He hopes from his heart that Tunisia escapes chaos and darkness and continues on its path towards modernity,” the statement said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

View article:
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