Billionaire member of Tunisia former ruling family landed in Canada

Tunisia seeks arrest of fugitive billionaire who landed in Montreal

LES PERREAUX and CAMPBELL CLARK

Montreal and Ottawa— Globe and Mail Update

Tunisia’s transitional government has issued an arrest warrant for a billionaire member of the former ruling family now living in Canada and has asked Ottawa to freeze the family’s assets here, sources say.

Tunisian Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said the government is seeking Belhassen Trabelsi, who arrived in Montreal with his family last week, along with ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife, Leïla Trabelsi, Mr. Trabelsi’s sister. Dozens of other family members have also been charged with financial crimes.

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The three are charged with illegally obtaining property and the illegal possession and transfer of foreign currency. In addition, Mr. Trabelsi and others also face charges of unauthorized trading in arms and munitions.
The names of the most senior members of the family, including Mr. Trabelsi, have been sent on to Interpol, Mr. Chebbi told several news agencies in Tunis.
The former president fled to Saudi Arabia Jan. 14 after violent protests. Mrs. Trabelsi is said to have taken millions of dollars in gold bars with her.
Belhassen Trabelsi was the senior business figure in the clan and has permanent residency in Canada. While Canadian officials are investigating whether he has met all the criteria to retain his residency, they privately admit they may have little power to expel him.
Permanent residents can lose their right to stay in Canada if they have not spent two of the past five years here. But given that Mr. Trabelsi is already in Montreal, he could claim refugee status and stay in the country for years as the case plays out.
Canadian government officials have said they would consider issuing a freeze on the family’s assets if Tunisia asks.
Several members of the ruling family have Canadian connections, including Canadian residency and property, causing concern among Canadian officials that more members of the family might try to make their way here.
Mr. Trabelsi and his younger relatives controlled banking, communications, transport and many other major Tunisian industries while living lavishly. They have been accused of siphoning billions in assets into European and other countries.
Western diplomats have described Mr. Trabelsi as the “most notorious” member of a family known for high living and strong-arm tactics.