Tunisia party leader fined $6.5m

Supporters of presidential candidate Nabil Karoui carry placards with his image and slogans in his favour as they rally in front of the tribunal in the Tunisian capital Tunis asking for his release from prison on 3 September 2019. – [Nacer Talel – Anadolu Agency]

A Tunisian court has fined Head of the Heart of Tunisia party Nabil Karoui 19.3 million dinars ($6.5 million), local media reported on Wednesday.

The ruling issued by the Court of First Instance in the capital city, Tunis, was made over “tax evasion and money laundering charges”.

Local media quoted sources stating that Karoui would be “released after paying the fine.”

In August 2019, Karoui was arrested by the local authorities for financial corruption, a month before running for the presidential election. Karoui came second in the first round of Tunisia’s presidential election in September 2019, despite being in jail at the time of the vote.

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