Jailed Tunisian Mogul Freed as Case Continues, Lawyer Says

(Bloomberg) -- Tunisian media mogul and former presidential candidate Nabil Karoui was released after spending almost six months in prison in connection with a probe into alleged financial violations, his lawyer said.

A court of cassation ruled Tuesday to free Karoui, the founder of Heart of Tunisia, the nation’s second-biggest party in parliament, while he continues to face trial for alleged money laundering and tax evasion, Nazih Saoui said by phone. He didn’t explain the conditions for Karoui’s release.

Karoui, who is in his 50s, was a front-runner in 2019’s presidential race, appealing to the North African country’s poorest at a time when Tunisia was mired in political deadlock and economic malaise. He lost a runoff to constitutional law expert Kais Saied.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.