Lotfi Mraihi placed under investigation, wanted notice issued (Mohamed Zitouna)

Tunis: The public prosecutor's office at the Tunis Court of First Instance has ordered agents of the Economic and Financial Sub-directorate to open an investigation against Secretary-General of the Republican People's Union (UPR) party Lotfi Mraihi and the party's administrative assistant, on charges of money launderling, smuggling profits abroad and opening bank accounts overseas without a licence from the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT). Mohamed Zitouna, spokesman for the Tunis Court of First Instance, told TAP on Monday that this investigation follows a previous inquiry into their involvement in securing endorsements in exchange for money. During her interrogation, the party's administrative assistant confessed that she had deliberately participated with Mraihi in smuggling his money to accounts abroad. He added that a five-day detention extendable of the party's administrative assistant was ordered and a wanted notice has been issued against Mraihi, while the investigation continues. Source: Agence Tuni s Afrique Presse