Tunisian ex-president sentenced in absence

Ben Ali, seen with his wife in this photo from 2009, ruled Tunisia for 23 years

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.

The couple, who left Tunisia for Saudi Arabia after a popular uprising in January, were being tried in absentia.

The court also ordered them to pay a $66m (£41m) fine.

The trial began on Monday on accusations of theft, corruption and drug smuggling, which the former president had denied.

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.

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

He said he had intended to return to Tunisia immediately, but the plane left without him, “disobeying my instructions”.

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.

The Saudi authorities have yet to respond to an extradition request from Tunisia for the couple.

The second case – targeting Ben Ali only – involves weapons and drugs reportedly found in his presidential palace.

Almost 2kg (4.4lb) of drugs, believed to be cannabis, and $27m (£16.4m; 18.7m euros) in cash were allegedly discovered.

Speaking from Beirut, Ben Ali’s lawyer Akram Azouri told the BBC the sentence was “a joke”.

“Don’t forget that the drug and the money were found three months after the president left his palace.

“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.

“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.

Ben Ali is also being investigated on suspicion of murder, abuse of power, trafficking of archaeological artefacts and money laundering.

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.

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

“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?

“He knows that every new political authority wants to blame its predecessor and hold it responsible for difficulties it fails to resolve.”

The statement also appealed to Tunisians not to forget Ben Ali’s achievements.

“He hopes from his heart that Tunisia escapes chaos and darkness and continues on its path towards modernity,” the statement said.

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