Tunisian justice examined this Monday the requests for release in the case targeting businessman Marouane Mabrouk. The public prosecutor is demanding an unprecedented bail of one billion dinars, while several former political leaders are being prosecuted for suspicion of corruption linked to the freezing of assets abroad.
The Criminal Chamber specializing in financial corruption cases held, on Monday, a decisive hearing at the Court of First Instance of Tunis to examine the requests for release of the defendants in the case concerning the lifting of the freezing of the assets of businessman Marouane Mabrouk with the European Union.
Three defendants in custody
At the heart of the matter: suspicions of serious failings during the management of the matter by the public company Karama Holding and by several political leaders of the time.
The representative of the public prosecutor demanded a record bail of one billion dinars (1000 MD) in exchange for a possible release agreement for Marouane Mabrouk, an unprecedented amount in Tunisian judicial annals.
The case under deliberation
Marouane Mabrouk appeared under arrest, alongside Adel Grar, former general director of Karama Holding, and a third accused, also detained, reports Mosaique fm.
They are being prosecuted as part of the investigation into the conditions that led Tunisian authorities to request the lifting of the freeze on Mabrouk’s assets with the EU in 2017.
The list of accused also includes several former ministers and senior officials including Samir Taïeb and Riadh Mouakher, who is appearing at large; Youssef Chahed and Mabrouk Korchid, declared on the run.
At the end of the pleadings devoted to the requests for release, the Chamber decided to put the case under advisement. The decision on the release requests, as well as the date of the next hearing, is awaited.
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