World

France seizes bank accounts of Ben Ali aides

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French courts had already seized an airplane belonging to the family of the former ruler during the course of an inquiry launched after the fall of his regime on January 14.

It follows a claim of corruption, misappropriation of funds and money laundering made by non-governmental organisations, Transparency International, France, Sherpa and the Arab human rights commission.

"It's a step, but it's a drop in the ocean," lawyer William Bourdon told AFP.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011