All Funds of Former President of Tunisia are Frozen

All funds deposited by former Tunisian President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, in banks of Switzerland, have been frozen because the Swiss government “seeks to prevent that the Swiss financial center serves to conceal the stolen funds from the concerned populations”.

All this took place because of charges against former Tunisian president, assuring he stole money from the state that he used to govern, and also saying he has acquired assets in other countries like France, where three non-governmental organizations have denounced, to the Paris prosecutor, Ben Ali and the family of his wife, Leila Trabelsi, for “ill-gotten” possession on French territory and for diversion of public funds from Tunisia to their own bank accounts.

Various sources, according to the complaining NGOs have reported that Ben Ali has a building in Paris estimated at 37 million Euros, as well as various funds in some French banks. Besides, Trabelsi family has available millions of Euros in bank accounts, and also has properties in Paris, Ile-de-France (region surrounding the capital), a chalet in Courchevel (Alps) and properties in Côte d’Azur.

The measures taken by France are insufficient according to NGOs because “only a court order to freeze the assets can ensure their prompt return of money to Tunisian people.”