Ben Ali assets in Switzerland transferred to Tunisia central bank
Switzerland has transferred 3.5 million Tunisian dinars ($1.27 million) of assets associated with former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to the Tunisian central bank, Reuters reported.
The presidency said: "Following efforts aimed at
recovering looted funds held abroad, the Tunisian Presidency informs that the
Swiss Authorities have transferred 3.5 million TND of former President Ben Ali
related assets to the Tunisian Central Bank."
Millions of dollars have been stuck in a bank account in
Switzerland since 2011 when Swiss authorities imposed a ten-year freeze on
assets belonging to Ben Ali and his family after a corruption probe into the
president was launched.
The assets will be unfrozen on Tuesday and restrictions on
who can access the money will cease, a presidential official told AFP on
condition of anonymity.
Observers have warned Ben Ali's family could claw back the
millions stored in Switzerland once the deadline expires.
Those set to benefit from the removal of restrictions on the
account include Leila Trabelsi, Ben Ali's widow, and her wealthy businessman
brother Belhassen Trabelsi, as well as between 30 and 50 further relatives and
associates.
Tunisian officials had hoped to claw back the money during
the ten-year freeze but have failed to do so.
Swiss authorities have reportedly demanded proof the funds
were gathered by Ben Ali illegally before they will return the money to the
Tunisian government.
Officials in the north African state have failed to compile
the necessary information in the last ten years.
It was not immediately clear why the 3.5 million dinars has
been released.
According to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, local officials
offered to create a joint body to support efforts by the Tunisian government to
reclaim the millions before the deadline. However, the offer of help was
refused by the late former Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who opted to
try to make reconciliation deals with Ben Ali's relatives and associates in order
to regain the funds.
On Tuesday Ben Ali's brother-in-law Belhassen Trabelsi was
sentenced in absentia to ten years in jail on corruption charges.
Trabelsi and his accomplice Sami Fehri were also fined 40
million dinars ($14.51 million) in the case.
The verdict, which can be appealed, was issued in relation
to financial crimes that occurred prior to the 14 January 2011 revolution, when
the Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) signed advertising
contracts with the private media production company Cactus, owned by Trabelsi
and managed by Fehri.
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