According to reports from Reuters, a Tunisian court has sentenced Marouan Mabrouk, the country’s wealthiest businessman, to 20 years in prison on corruption charges, while former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed received a six-year sentence for mishandling the investigation. As cited by Reuters, Mabrouk, son-in-law of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was charged with money laundering, stealing funds from state companies, and obtaining illegal benefits from Chahed’s government.

The ruling, as reported by Reuters, reflects Tunisia’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption amid political instability. President Kais Saied’s administration has been cracking down on corruption, establishing a committee in 2022 to recover funds from business figures accused of financial misconduct, according to the same reports.

Mabrouk, a prominent figure in Tunisia’s business community, has faced criticism for receiving support and protection from successive governments after the 2011 revolution, Reuters noted. The court also sentenced six other former ministers to six-year terms for parallel allegations.