The criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of Appeal has decided to postpone the examination of the so-called case of departure networks towards conflict zones, while rejecting all the requests for release presented by the accused.
The court set a new hearing for January 29, considering it necessary to postpone examination of the case, reports Mosaique fm. It also decided to postpone the study of the other requests to a later stage, after processing the merits of the case. In the meantime, all the accused remain in detention.
Heavy sentences at first instance
In this sensitive case, the specialized criminal chamber at the court of first instance of Tunis had pronounced severe sentences against the people prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the networks of departure to the conflict zones. The sentences ranged from 18 to 36 years in prison.
Among those convicted are former Interior Minister Ali Larayedh, sentenced to 34 years in prison, as well as Abdelkrim Laabidi and Fathi Beldi, former security executives, each receiving 26 years of imprisonment. The judgments also provided for five years of administrative supervision following the execution of the sentences.
