Tunisia’s Central Bank Denies Gold ‘Heist’ by Ben Ali’s Wife
A spokesman for Tunisia's central bank denies a Le Monde report that the wife of ousted Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali left the country with almost $60 million worth of Tunisia's gold reserves.
A spokesman for Tunisia’s central bank denies a Le Monde report that the wife of ousted Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali left the country with almost $60 million worth of Tunisia’s gold reserves.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...BBC:
Citing French security sources, Le Monde reported that Leila Trabelsi went to the bank in December, the month when the protests against her husband’s government began.
It said the bank’s governor refused her demand and asked for a written request for the gold, said to be worth 45m euros (£38m). It said the president initially refused to make such an order before giving in to his wife.
The paper said she then left Tunisia before returning to the country, and that the gold bars were reportedly taken to Switzerland.
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.