A Tunisian appeals court on Tuesday upheld three-and-a-half-year prison sentences for two prominent journalists, their defence lawyer confirmed.
Journalists Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies were convicted in January of money laundering and tax evasion charges they deny.
“We are very disappointed by this verdict,” defence lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi told AFP after the ruling in Tunis.
Since President Kais Saied’s 2021 power grab, rights groups say Tunisia has experienced a sharp regression in freedoms.
Reporters Without Borders condemned the case as judicial harassment, saying the charges lacked credible evidence ahead of hearing.
RSF said prosecutors failed to present serious evidence including suspicious transactions or hidden assets during the extended investigation period.
Defence lawyer argued authorities presumed wealth and property ownership, building money laundering accusations on low tax declarations improperly in the cases.
The judge questioned Zeghidi on company activities, media payments, and bank transfers from Tunisia and abroad, AFP reported.
Bsaies was questioned about leaving teaching work and how his wife financed launching a private school project.
RSF regional director said no suspicious transactions, hidden assets, or credible proof were established after investigation concluded.
This case reflects judicial harassment, with journalists’ professional work forming the underlying basis of prosecutions, RSF added.
In a separate ruling, journalist Zied el-Heni received one-year prison sentence for insulting others after criticising the cases.
