Belhassen Trabelsi

Belhassen Trabelsi
Born Tunisia
Residence Montreal, Canada[1]
Nationality TunisiaTunisian
Occupation Businessman
Political party
 Constitutional Democratic Rally
Religion Islam
Children 4[1]

Belhassen Trabelsi is a Tunisian businessman. He is the brother of Leïla Ben Ali, wife of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.[2]

Biography

He sat on the Board of Banque de Tunisie.[2][3] He owns 65% of KoralBlue Airlines.[3][4] He also owns the Karthago Group, including Karthago Airlines and Kathago Hotels.[5] He became the CEO of Nouvelair in 2008.[6] He was a senior official in the now defunct Constitutional Democratic Rally.[5]

Rumors were widespread about his arrest in Tunisia on January 14, 2011, as he was trying to flee Tunisia and meet with family members in Lyon, France.[7] His house in Sokra, 10 miles (16 km) away from Tunis, has been looted.[8][9][10][11][12] He is currently in Montreal, Canada.[1] On January 28, 2011, Canadian foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon was quoted as having said that Trabelsi was no longer welcome in Canada and was to be arrested. However, Cannon also went on to say that Trabelsi has applied for refugee status and is therefore entitled to 'due process' under Canadian law, which could take years to settle.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://news.maktoob.com/article/5970032/%D8%AA%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%83%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Robin Wigglesworth, 'US warns of ‘flow of illicit assets’ from Tunisia', 20 January 2011, The Financial Times
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jeune Afrique, Issues 2468-2476, 2008, p. 10
  4. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 102.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roulah Kalaf, 'Looters strip homes of Ben Ali relatives', The Financial Times, 16 January 2011
  6. ↑ Leaders
  7. ↑ Dernières Nouvelles d'Algérie
  8. ↑ 'Looted home of Tunisia's ex-president's brother-in-law', 10 January 2011, BBC News
  9. ↑ The Independent, Tunisia descends into riot chaos
  10. ↑ Yahoo News
  11. ↑ Washington Times
  12. ↑ Eleanor Beardsley, 'Tunisians Loot Lavish Homes Of Former Ruling Clan', NPR, 18 January 2011
  13. ↑ http://www.montrealgazette.com/Canada+arrest+Tunisian+leader/4185645/story.html