Ex-Tunisian President wanted in connection over Riviera property

Ben Ali was ousted on Friday (14 January) after weeks of protests on the streets of the Tunisian capital Tunis.

The couple, who has since fled to Saudi Arabia has already come under investigating by French authorities over allegations of money laundering.

Ben Ali is suspected to have acquired properties throughout France, as well as a number on the Côte d’Azur through embezzled funds procured during his controversial 23-year tenure over the North African state.  

Transparency International wants the French authorities to look into claims that Ben Ali used distant family members and associates to transfer funds in order to purchase property, which includes an entire apartment block in Monaco.

The presidential husband and wife had been a regular fixture on the Riviera, with Nice Matin reporting this week that Leila Trabelsi regularly celebrated New Year in Monaco, where reportedly her parents lived in a suite on the first floor of the Hotel de Paris.

The newspaper also disclosed that Ms Trabelsi had taken to living like a billionaire in some of the region’s wealthiest areas. “She rode around in a Bentley, drove a Porsche convertible, spent money in luxury boutiques and visited VIP parties.” A former member of her staff told Nice Matin. Ms Trabelsi was last seen in Monaco in May, when she attended the Grand Prix.  

TD