A Tunisian court has sentenced former Tunisair (TU, Tunis) CEO Khaled Chelly to three years in prison and union ex-secretary-general Najmeddine Mzoughi to four years over corruption linked to fraudulent recruitment and forged diplomas, according to local media reports.
Both men were arrested in July 2024, Mzoughi while trying to flee to Libya and Chelly shortly afterwards, and they have been in detention since. Authorities are also investigating eight others connected to the case.
The Tunis Court of First Instance handed down the prison sentences late on October 24, reported L'Economiste Maghrébin, Tunisie Numérique, and Mosaique FM.
The developments follow internal probes into suspicious hiring practices at Tunisair, including the use of fake university degrees and manipulation of administrative procedures. Charges included abusing public office for personal gain and violating recruitment rules.
