Media mogul Nabil Karoui is one of the top contenders in the September 15 presidential race. Karoui's television channel was also banned.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Media mogul Nabil Karoui is one of the top contenders in the September 15 presidential race. Karoui’s television channel was also banned.<\/em><\/p>\n Tunisian authorities on Friday detained presidential candidate Nabil Karoui on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.<\/p>\n The media mogul is a key contender the presidential poll schedule for September 15.<\/p>\n Earlier Friday, Karoui’s Nessma TV and two other broadcasters were banned by electoral and media authorities for not holding licenses and influencing government bodies.<\/p>\n Karoui was charged in early July with money laundering. He claims there are “attempts to undermine his growing popularity.”<\/p>\n Tunisia is holding a presidential election after the death last month of Beji Caid Essebsi, the first democratically elected president following the popular uprising in 2011 that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.<\/p>\n Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and Abdelfattah Mourou of the Islamist inspired Ennahdha party are other top candidates in the race.<\/p>\n cw\/aw (AFP, Reuters)<\/em><\/p>\n \n