A Tunis court has 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 former strongman and his wife Leila Trabelsi had already been sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison last month 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 alone was accused of harbouring drugs and weapons at his palace in the Carthage neighborhood north of Tunis. He also faces a drug trafficking charge.
After fours hours of deliberation, the court sentenced him to 10 years for drug possession, five years for weapons possession and six months for possession of archaeological artefacts.
"Today's trial, just like yesterday's trial and the 93 other scheduled trials, is nonexistent as it breaches all standards of a fair trial," Ben Ali's lawyers said in a statement read out even before the verdict was announced.
"Today's trial is part of a political smear campaign against president Ben Ali which is aimed at portraying him as a drugs, weapons and currency smuggler."
The trial had been scheduled to take place last week but was postponed due to a judges' strike.
It opened with presiding judge Touhmi Hafi noting Ben Ali's absence for the record, saying: "The accused is not present and is a fugitive." Ben Ali's attorneys then 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.
"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.
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