The Paris state prosecutor’s office says it has opened a preliminary investigation into the property assets held by ousted Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in France.
Mr Ben Ali fled his country earlier this month following a number of violent protests.
Separately, the head of Tunisia’s armed forces has warned a power vacuum there could lead to a dictatorship.
Rachid Ammar was addressing anti-government protesters.
The investigation in Paris was opened after three NGOs filed a legal case against the former leader over corruption during his 23-year rule.
The three groups – Sherpa, Transparency International France and the Arab Commission for Human Rights – accuse Mr Ben Ali of corruption, misusing public funds and money-laundering, the AFP news agency reports.
They estimate the wealth amassed by the former leader and his entourage at $5bn (£3bn).
Last week, Tunisian prosecutors said they would be investigating the foreign assets of Mr Ben Ali and his family, including possible illegal transactions and foreign bank accounts.
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