AfricaWorld News

Ben Ali’s brother-in-law flees to Canada

The billionaire brother-in-law of Tunisia’s ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has fled to Canada following the recent uprising in the North African country.

Belhassen Trabelsi, who’s the eldest brother of Ben Ali’s wife, is said to have arrived in Montreal with his family and a nanny aboard a private jet last week, AFP reported on Friday.

Tunisia has urged Canadian authorities to arrest him. Reports say Ottawa has already revoked the billionaire’s permanent residency status, saying Tunisia’s former ruling clan is not welcome in the country.

Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after days of street protests put an end to his 23-year rule.

The international police agency (Interpol) earlier issued a global arrest warrant for Ben Ali and six of his family members including his wife, Leila Trabelsi.

Tunisian Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said that Ben Ali and his relatives are wanted on charges of illegally taking money out of the country and acquiring real estate and other assets abroad.

Citing information received from the French secret services, the French newspaper, Le Monde, disclosed on January 17 that Leila took 1.5 tons of gold worth more than 45 million euros out of the country before the collapse of Ben Ali’s regime.

Thirty-three members of his family have already been detained in Tunisia for abusing their power and position to increase their wealth.

This comes as Tunisia’s interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has eventually adopted radical changes to the cabinet following days of protests against the inclusion of politicians from the former administration in the transitional government.

Ghannouchi announced Thursday that five key ministers, including the crucial defense, foreign and interior ministry posts were replaced with new figures.

Tunisia’s new foreign minister will be Ahmed Ounais — a 75-year-old diplomat who has served as Tunisia’s ambassador to Moscow and New Delhi.

Thousands of protesters have kept up their daily rallies in the streets of Tunisia, calling for old regime politicians to be swept from power and for the abolition of Ben Ali’s Constitutional Democratic Rally party.

Back to top button