Lotfi Mraihi sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from running for life

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, Lotfi Mraihi, secretary general and presidential candidate of the Republican People’s Union (UPR), was sentenced by the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance to eight months in prison, two thousand dinars, a fine and a lifetime ban from running for public office following the final verdict.

Lotfi Mraihi was accused of offering money to influence the will of voters during the 2019 presidential election. In addition to banning the candidate, the same verdict was passed against four other officials during the UPR.

The spokesman of the Electoral Institution (Isie), Mohamed Tlili Mansri, said yesterday that a political prisoner submitted a special authorization through his representative, the president of the Republican People’s Union (UPR) and presidential candidate Lotfi Mraihi. He confirmed on Friday, July 19, 2024 that the candidate was able to withdraw his sponsorship form.

Remember, Lotfi Mraihi was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

The UPR chairperson and the party’s general secretary are suspected of money laundering, diverting assets and opening accounts abroad without authorization from the Central Bank.

Mohamed Zitouna, spokesman for the Tunisian Court of First Instance, said the case was revealed by the UPR secretary-general, who had been interviewed in another case involving false sponsorships. She then admitted that she helped Lotfi Mraihi transfer money to his accounts abroad. The UPR secretary-general was detained by the police and a search warrant was issued for Lotfi Mraihi.

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