Ben Ali gets 15 years in jail over drugs and weapons charges

A Tunis court on Monday sentenced ousted Tunisian president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in his absence to 15 years in jail for possession of arms, drugs and archaeological artefacts. In his second trial since fleeing to Saudi Arabia following a popular uprising in January, Ben Ali was also given a fine of 54,000 euros (78,500 dollars). The trial before a Tunis court had been scheduled to take place last week but was postponed due to a judges' strike. The former strongman and his wife Leila Trabelsi had already been sentenced in their absence last month to 35 years in prison for misappropriating public funds after large sums of cash and jewellery were discovered in a police search of their palace. In Monday's trial, Ben Ali was accused of harbouring drugs and weapons at his palace in the Carthage neighbourhood north of Tunis. He also faces a drug trafficking charge. Presiding judge Touhmi Hafi noted Ben Ali's absence for the record, saying: "The accused is not present and is a fugitive." Ben Ali's attorneys pressed for another postponement to allow them more time to prepare their defence. After their request was turned down, the lawyers stormed out, with Hosni Beji blasting what he called "the disregard for the rights of the defence". Their exit triggered loud boos from the public gallery. "I am bitter. We did a good job. Our request for a delay is not a lawyer's whim. This trial is tainted by irregularities," Beji fumed. "How can we imagine that a president holding power can have two kilogrammes of cannabis resin of mediocre quality (with intentions) of selling it?" Beji asked, describing the charges as "irrational." Beji said most of the weapons found at Ben Ali's palace had been gifts from high-ranking international figures, including Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Ben Abdel Aziz. Ben Ali has dismissed as a setup the discovery of cannabis in his office after his departure. After only six hours' deliberation, a court on June 20 sentenced the Ben Ali couple to 35 years in prison for misappropriating public funds and also imposed a 45 million euro ($65.3 million) fine. The former ruler and his wife have been living in exile since January 14, with Riyadh ignoring, at least publicly, Tunisian demands for their extradition. Ben Ali denounced his June 20 conviction as a "parody of justice" and "political liquidation", in a statement. Dozens of spectators came to watch Monday's proceedings but there was no demonstration outside. "It has become routine," said one of the two policemen posted outside the courtroom. In a sign of public indifference, newspapers gave minimal coverage to the trial. "It mirrors what is going on in the country. Just more theatricals," said 20-year-old Ali Ayouni. Ayouni hails from Regueb, the town in the southwestern Sidi Bouzid province where the self-immolation of a street vendor sparked last December's popular revolt that ultimately toppled Ben Ali and ignited a wave of mass uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world. In addition to Monday's hearing, Ben Ali and his entourage face possible legal proceedings in no fewer than 182 other cases. In one, a military court is expected to consider charges relating to the 300 people killed during the uprising.