The Tunisian Primary Court jails the former director of the Tobacco Agency for 18 years in absentia

The Criminal Chamber of the Tunisian Primary Court sentenced the former director-general of the National Agency for Tobacco and Fuel Control, Rafik Abbas, to 18 years in absentia. The court ordered the accused to repay more than 90 thousand dinars for the benefit of the public institution, with him being denied public office, while the defence team did not comment on it.

The case involves the seizure and smuggling of large quantities of tobacco belonging to the foundation and its illegal distribution, supply and trafficking. These violations caused damage and financial losses to the agency in excess of 170,000 dinars, prompting the court to prosecute those accused of leverage and financial corruption.

The same court ruling included convicting four former agents with prison sentences ranging from two to eight years, with their solidarity obligation to repay nearly 81,000 dinars.

The prosecution relied on the provisions of Chapter 96 of the Criminal Journal of exploiting a public servant to harm management and unlawful gain for himself or others, as well as charges of seizure of transferred funds and disposal by virtue of his employment. Tafiq Abbas was appointed as the Director-General of the National Tobacco and Fuel Agency on 26 December 2019 by a government order, after taking over in 2018 the Presidency of the Ministry of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises, and was then commissioned to manage the National Alcohol Agency in aut 2022 before officially terminating his duties in February 2023.

In the absence of such judgments, the defendant shall remain subject to the possibility to lodge a legal appeal for his or her re-trial in person when he or she has been suspended or has surrendered to the competent judicial authorities in accordance with applicable legal procedures.