A Tunisian court has sentenced Nesrine Ben Ali, daughter of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and her ex-husband Sakher Materi to six years in prison with immediate execution. The conviction was handed down by the specialized criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance on September 22, 2026. The charges include financial corruption, causing harm to the administration, and irregular use of public funds.
According to reports from Mosaique FM, the judgment was rendered in absentia. An expert-comptable also implicated in the case received a five-year prison sentence. This latest conviction is part of an ongoing judicial process that has seen several developments over the years. The case revolves around allegations of financial corruption and misuse of public funds.
This is not the first time Nesrine Ben Ali and Sakher Materi have faced judicial action. In February 2026, the specialized criminal chamber examined a related case involving suspicions of financial corruption and embezzlement of public funds. The case was adjourned to March 30, pending the outcome of an appeal against a decision by the chamber of accusation.
The duo already faces other judicial decisions in cases linked to the former regime. In February 2025, the same specialized chamber convicted Nesrine Ben Ali, Sakher Materi, and Leïla Trabelsi in absentia to six years in prison with immediate execution. The case involved allegations of financial and administrative corruption related to a public contract.
Sakher Materi has also been convicted in another case, receiving a ten-year prison sentence with immediate execution, along with a fine of over four billion dinars. This case allegedly involved the embezzlement of public funds. These proceedings are part of a broader judicial effort initiated after the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime in January 2011.
The judicial actions target members of Ben Ali's family and economic entourage. The decisions in these cases concern distinct facts and procedures, which must be differentiated from one another. The cases against Nesrine Ben Ali and Sakher Materi reflect the ongoing efforts to address corruption allegations from the previous regime.
The convictions highlight the continued focus on accountability for actions taken during Ben Ali's rule. The judicial process in Tunisia aims to address allegations of corruption and misuse of power from the past regime. The cases against Nesrine Ben Ali and Sakher Materi are part of this broader accountability effort.
Key points
- Nesrine Ben Ali and Sakher Materi were sentenced to six years in prison for corruption and misuse of public funds.
- The convictions are part of ongoing judicial efforts to address corruption from the previous regime.
- The cases involve distinct facts and procedures related to financial corruption and misuse of power.
