Tunisia-10 years in prison for Algerian who attempted to smuggle female terrorist into Tunisia

The Algiers Judicial Council’s criminal court has asked for a 10-year prison sentence for a man in his fifties. He is accused of trying to smuggle a pregnant Tunisian woman, who is suspected of having links with a terrorist group, across the border.

The defendant stood trial for glorifying terrorist groups and illegally possessing a fifth-category banned weapon, following his detention by security forces in Sedrata, near the Tunisian border. He was caught in the act of attempting to clandestinely exfiltrate the pregnant Tunisian national, who was identified during the inquiry as being associated with a terrorist group. The accused claimed that this operation was to fulfil an agreement with a longtime associate and friend.

The Algerian newspaper “Al-Chourouk” reported on the special referral decision in this case on Sunday. According to the report, the arrangement implicated a monetary exchange for the woman’s secret passage, who was under investigation by both Algerian and Tunisian authorities. The probe led to the arrest of the parties involved and the seizure of a Class 5 prohibited weapon owned by the accused. The Tunisian authorities were also reached to identify the woman, who was revealed to be the wife of a terrorist and actively involved with his group. She had arranged with the accused and another person to be smuggled into Tunisia at her husband’s request, in exchange for money.