Ben Ali's relative seeks refugee status

Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:20AM
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Tunisia's ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's brother-in-law Belhassen Trabelsi. The billionaire brother-in-law of Tunisia's ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has sought refugee status in Canada following the revolution in the North African country.


Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Saturday that Belhassen Trabelsi, who is the eldest brother of Ben Ali's wife, wants to stay in Canada as a refugee.

"I understand that there has been a request for refugee status," Cannon said in an interview with the CBC News Network.
Trabelsi fled to the Montreal area with his family after Ben Ali was ousted in a popular uprising on January 14.

"We've indicated that these people are not welcome in Canada, but obviously that having been stated, Canada is nonetheless a country that has legislation," the Canadian minister said. "We do abide by the rule of law."
Cannon said Trabelsi, "as well as the members of his family, do have the possibility to use the legislation that is in place to go before the courts and make his case."

Tunisia has urged Canadian authorities to arrest Trabelsi and extradite him. Reports say Ottawa has already revoked the billionaire's permanent residency status, saying Tunisia's former ruling clan is not welcome in the country.

Trabelsi reportedly left the Chateau Vaudreuil, a hotel west of Montreal, on Thursday for an undisclosed location, where he was to be questioned by officials.

He had been staying at the hotel since arriving in Montreal by his private jet last week.

Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after days of street protests put an end to his 23-year rule.

The international police agency (Interpol) had earlier issued a global arrest warrant for Ben Ali and six of his family members including his wife, Leila Trabelsi.

Tunisian Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said that Ben Ali and his relatives are wanted on charges of illegally taking money out of the country and acquiring real estate and other assets abroad.

Citing information received from the French secret services, the French newspaper, Le Monde, disclosed on January 17 that Leila Trabelsi took 1.5 tons of gold worth more than 45 million Euros out of the country before the collapse of Ben Ali's regime.
Thirty-three members of his family have already been detained in Tunisia for abusing their power and position to increase their wealth.