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Algeria arrests former Tunisia presidential candidate 

August 30, 2021 at 10:38 am

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]

Algerian authorities on Sunday arrested the former presidential candidate and head of the Heart of Tunisia party Nabil Karoui on corruption and money laundering charges.

Local daily newspaper Echorouk reported that Karoui was arrested in the Algerian border city of Tebessa with his brother Ghazi after “secretly and illegally entering the city,” adding that he was due to appear before an Algerian court on Monday.

Karoui, the owner of the Tunisian Nessma TV channel, was released on 15 June after spending more than six months in custody for “money laundering and tax evasion charges”. He had previously accused his political opponents of being behind his imprisonment.

Sources from the Heart of Tunisia party earlier revealed that Karoui and many of his party’s deputies had fled the country following the exceptional measures taken in July by Tunisian President Kais Saied.

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