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Tunisian president under fire for alleged abuse of power

Ethics watchdogs are taking the Tunisian president to court, accusing him of corruption for ordering the release of a political ally who has served less than three months of a two-year sentence.
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TUNIS — Anti-corruption campaigners are taking legal action against Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi for issuing a special pardon to one of his party's advisers who was sentenced to two years in prison for corruption.

Essebsi issued the pardon Dec. 10 for Borhane Besais, a former political adviser to Nidaa Tounes and an adviser to former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Though the case dates back to before the 2011 revolution, when Ben Ali was ousted, Besais was sentenced less than three months ago.

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