Tunisian court opens second trial against ousted President Ben Ali

Tunisian court opens second trial against ousted President Ben Ali

2011-07-04 23:14:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

TUNIS (BNO NEWS) -- A Tunisian court on Monday opened the second trial in absentia of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after rejecting a request to delay proceedings, the state-run TAP news agency reported.

The lawyers of Ben Ali withdrew from the trial as the defendant did not appear at the Court of First Instance of Tunis, which refused to delay the process. The defense team alleged they will persuade the former leader to show up.

However, the judge decided to continue the hearing and began reading the drugs and weapons charges against Ben Ali in relation to the discovery of narcotics, weapons and archeological objects in the Sidi Dhrif Palace after he left the country.

On June 20, Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Ben Ali, were sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison for misuse of public funds and property. The couple was also ordered to pay fines that amount up to $65.6 million.

Ben Ali, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, has no intention to return to Tunisia in order to face the accusations against him. He labeled the 35-year prison term imposed on him as a "joke."

On April 14, the Tunisian Justice Ministry charged the ousted leader with 18 charges including conspiring against the State and voluntary manslaughter. Authorities also issued a request to Interpol to freeze the assets of the former president and his family.

On May 5, a court charged Ben Ali, his wife Leila Ben Ali, his nephew Kais Ben Ali with plotting against internal security, inciting people to engaging in armed violence against each others or causing disorder, murder and looting in the Tunisian territory.

In January, former President Ben Ali was ousted after weeks of violent protests over economic issues. The interim leadership announced the formation of a caretaker government of national unity that included members of the opposition.

The United Nations estimated that approximately 219 people were killed during the Tunisian mass unrest that began in mid-December. Most of them died after security forces were ordered to fire at them.

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