TUNISIA: Disarray in office of ousted President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali's influential relative

Record ID: 439009

  • Title: TUNISIA: Disarray in office of ousted President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali's influential relative
  • Date: 25th January 2011
  • Summary: PHOTOS ON TRABELSI'S DESK CLOSE ON PHOTO OF TRABELSI
  • Embargoed: 9th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tunisia, Tunisia
  • Country: Tunisia
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAALUVUX4W0VNQ9E4MEPV1BS9VI
  • Story Text: There's disarray in the abandoned office of a well known and influential in-law of the ousted Tunisian president, as staff rummage through his papers and photographs.
    In the now abandoned offices where he exercised control over network of businesses gifted to him by virtue his sister's marriage to Tunisia's ousted President, Muncif Trabelsi, is said to have doled out favours and inspired fear.
    The Tunisian uprising that toppled long-time President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali last week was fuelled by anger over poverty, corruption and political repression.
    And for many, nothing seems to symbolize the excesses of the old regime for legions of demonstrators that toppled the strongman in the 'Jasmine Revolution', that Ben Ali's in-laws, the Trabelsi clan.
    By all accounts Leila Ben Ali [nee Trabelsi] and her brothers created a business empire that encompassed virtually ever sector of the Tunisian economy, from telecommunications, to banking, to the food industry.
    Muncif Trabelsi is said to have made his fortune in construction.
    But for many Tunisians, the tale of the Trabelsi clan's rise runs parallel with their loss of faith in Ben-Ali's government.
    The Trabelsi's are portrayed as corrupt and cruel, using the power of the presidency to amass immense wealth and lead lavish lifestyles that enraged the growing ranks of unemployed.
    Nearly every Tunisian seems to have a story of being disenfranchised in some way by the Trabelsis, forced to pay kickbacks, or suffering for a lack of fealty.
    Leila Ben Ali came from relatively humble origins and has been mocked by protesters for once making her living as a hairdresser.
    Ali Al-Yacoubi, who works in the building in downtown Tunis where Muncif Trabelsi was based, says her brother began his rise from an equally modest start.
    "He was a photographer, he was a famous photographer. He's not like a normal photographer who has a photo shop, he was taking photos outside near to the cathedral and downtown, like an artist. After doing that, he went to Libya and came back. When his sister got rich he started this company, and he also had the Transmat."
    But as photos of Muncif Trabelsi with Lebanese popstar Haifa Wehbe attest, his sister's fortuitous marriage soon paid dividends.
    "He's close to the family and some people are afraid of him, and some others come to see him try and get favours from. He was strong, he was powerful. He worked directly with the family - they don't have enough courage to come to him and say 'you stole my money', 'pay us or we will file a case against you in court.' It was considered our problem, it was never his problem. If there were real laws in this country normally we could go and protest against this kind of thing. But we can never speak about this, otherwise you would be silenced," said Ali Al-Yacoubi.
    With Ben Ali having taken refuge in Saudi Arabia, the Trabelsi clans' salad days are undoubtedly over.
    Leila Ben Ali's brother Imad is reportedly in custody along with an untold number of her other relatives.
    And rumours abound that the first lady herself made off with a good chunk of Tunisia's gold bullion.
    But while Muncif Trabelsi's staff rummage through his papers and photos, finding out the truth about the Trabelsi's will be left to the new Tunisian government, which has set up a committee to investigate corruption under Ben Ali.
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