The criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance yesterday delivered verdicts ranging from 11 to 30 years in prison in what is known as the “case of passports and nationalities issued to foreigners”. This was confirmed by a judicial source to the TAP agency.
Indeed, the chamber sentenced to 20 years in prison the former Minister of Justice during the reign of the said Troika and leader of the Ennahdha movement, Noureddine Bhiri, as well as the former security executive Fathi Beldi. The Chamber also pronounced sentences of 30 years in prison against various accused on the run, this is notably the case of Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of the president of the Ennahdha movement, as well as three other accused on the run, who were each sentenced to 30 years in prison with immediate execution. The court sentenced two other defendants to 11 years in prison, while subjecting all of the convicts to administrative monitoring for a period of 5 years.
Furthermore, the chamber decided to strike the name of former Head of Government Troika Hamadi Jebali as well as those of two other accused, in response to the request of their lawyers. And this, while awaiting the outcome of the cassation appeal filed against the decision of the indictment chamber having ordered their referral to the criminal chamber.
Remember that the charges concern the guidance, planning, facilitation, assistance, intermediation and organization of the entry or exit of a person from Tunisian territory, legally or clandestinely, with the aim of committing one of the terrorist crimes; as well as the manufacturing and falsification of national identity cards, passports, licenses and administrative certificates for the benefit of a terrorist organization or agreement, or of persons linked to terrorist crimes. Added to this are incitement to these acts, forgery and the use of forgery, the use of seals of public authority, as well as the making and use of an administrative certificate in the name of a public official.
