Tunisian justice has delivered its verdict in the so-called fake diplomas affair in Tunisair.
The criminal chamber of the court of first instance of Tunis sentenced, Friday evening, Khaled Chelly, former CEO of the national company, to three years in prison, and Nejmeddine Mzoughi, former general secretary of the Tunisair union, to four years in prison, reports Mosaique Fm.
On July 31, 2025, the investigating judge of the same court issued committal warrants against the two men, who have since been placed in detention.
Khaled Chelly was arrested on July 30, 2024, as part of an investigation launched after the arrest of Nejmeddine Mzoughi at the Ras Jedir border post, while he was trying to flee to Libya.
Mzoughi was on the wanted list for forged diplomas, pimping and corruption.
The Tunis Prosecutor’s Office also opened a judicial investigation targeting eight other people suspected of being involved in this affair, centered on fraudulent recruitment and the use of false diplomas within the public company.
Old suspicions of internal corruption at Tunisair
This case is part of a series of cases affecting the national airline, already shaken by several administrative and financial corruption scandals.
In April 2024, the courts issued arrest warrants against three employees for using false diplomas in internal recruitment.
During a surprise visit to Tunis-Carthage airport, President Kaïs Saïed publicly denounced illegal hiring and massive falsification of diplomas, emphasizing the need to restore transparency and competence within public companies.
The two officials are accused of having abused their functions to encourage fraudulent recruitment and obtain undue advantages, causing harm to the administration.
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