Tunisia jails former tobacco boss for 18 years
The former head of the national tobacco and matches company was also ordered to repay over 90,000 dinars.
Tunis's Court of First Instance has sentenced the former chief executive of the national tobacco and matches company to 18 years in prison. The court convicted him in absentia for embezzling large quantities of cigarettes intended for sale. He was found guilty of exploiting his public office to cause financial harm to the administration and gain an improper advantage.
The court also ordered the former official to return more than 90,000 dinars to the public enterprise. The charges against him included abusing his position for personal or third-party benefit. The ruling was delivered by the criminal chamber of the Tunis court.
The former leader's conviction by default means he was not present for the trial. The Régie Nationale du tabac et des allumettes (RNTA) is the state-owned entity involved in the case.