Former President of Tunisia sentenced to 35 years

Former ruler of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, with his wife, Leila Trabelsi, was sentenced to 35 years each in prison in the trial in absentia. Both were convicted of corruption and a host of other charges on Monday, June 20, 2011 after the jewelry and the public funds amounting to U.S. $ 27 million was found in one of his palace.

After five months ago was forced from power, the two men who fled to Saudi Arabia is on trial. Tunisia still has so far failed to get Saudi Arabia to restore the former dictator's 74-year-old.

Ben Ali was sentenced to pay 50 million dinars, or about U.S. $ 36 million, while his wife paid 41 million dinars for embezzling public funds. His wife holds a number of expensive jewelry at his palace in Sidi Bou Said.

While other cases involving Ben Ali as the discovery of weapons and drugs in the royal palace in Carthage, has been postponed. Lawyers who defend Ben Ali has said it will study the first case. The trial of the case was postponed until 30 June.

Ben Ali rejected the charges through a release issued by the French lawyer. Ben Ali calls it a criminal court as a stage.

"I am devoted to my country and aspire to, my attendance at evening twilight, to keep my honor," said Ben Ali, referring to his service for 23 years as President and Minister of the Interior.

Ben Ali, and in particular his wife's clan, Trebelsi, has evaluated the Ministry of State Property benefit tremendously from the Ben Ali, so that the Tunisian economy is expected to secure a quarter. Trebelsi families generally operate like the mafia control in the north African country's economy, ranging from hotels, banks, car distributors to radio and television.