MONTREAL — An elusive Tunisian billionaire who disappeared from Canada as he was set to be deported to his homeland in 2016 resurfaced last week and is under arrest in France. Tunisian authorities say that after learning of Trabelsi’s arrest last week, they informed France — as they had previously told Canada — they want Trabelsi returned home. “The Tunisian authorities have begun a request for the extradition of Belhassen Trabelsi, brother-in-law of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, with French authorities who have recently arrested him,” a statement provided by the Tunisian Embassy in Canada read. The billionaire businessman who dabbled in everything from cement production to television studios was a prominent figure during the 23-year rule of the once-dominant Ben Ali clan. Trabelsi’s sister Leila is married to Ben Ali, and the tycoon’s arrival in Montreal sparked protests from the local Tunisian community.

Source: National Post March 19, 2019 19:06 UTC