Tunisian ex-leader's wife had 1,000 shoes: report

The official residence of Tunisia's disgraced first couple housed 1,000 pairs of designer shoes, 1,500 jewellery items and massive stocks of sanitary products, a report published Friday said.

Tunisian ex-leader's wife had 1,000 shoes: report

"I feel ashamed. There's reason for the nation to feel ashamed," said legal expert Neji Baccouche as he presented the report drawn up by a National Investigation Committee on corruption and misappropriation among members of the former regime.

Baccouche suggested that the former presidential palace at Sid Bou Said, near the capital Tunis, be turned into a museum as a reminder of the corruption prevailing under president Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi.

The 345-page report highlights the extent of corruption not only at the top of the state but also in state agencies, ministries, banks, customs authorities, the media and among lawyers.

"We looked into 5,000 files of which 320 were handed over to the prosecutor's office for a legal inquiry," Baccouche said.

Corruption and misappropriation affected all levels according to the report and pervaded the administration, the legal system, properties, contract placings and state projects, privatisation, telecommunications and the tax system, he added.

The report also criticises pervasive misuse of authority, expropriations, blackmail, insider trading and mafia-style practices by people other than those close to the former presidential couple and their families.

It sheds light on the rules governing foreign and national journalists' work as they were asked to polish the regime's image.

"This situation is the result of the concentration of power in the hands of one man," said Baccouche.

The report only identifies suspects by the initials of their names but additional information on the president's official correspondence with public figures or close media is attached.

Among those is businessman Hechmi Haamdi, a wealthy London resident, whose party won 26 seats in the October 23 election of a constituent assembly.

The report was handed over to Tunisia's interim president Foued Mebazaa who had given orders that the assets of Ben Ali, his wife and their families be seized.

Mebazaa has also asked that those who caused the losses and plundered the country's riches be held accountable.