Tunisian presidential candidate Zammel sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison: Will he be able to run in the election?

Ayachi Zammel, a candidate in the presidential election to be held in Tunisia on October 6, has been sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison.

Lawyer Abdessattar Messaoudi, head of Zammel's defense team, announced in a statement on his Facebook account that his client, Zammel, had been sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison.

A lawsuit had been filed against Ayachi Zammel, whose presidential candidacy had been finalized, on charges of 'submitting false declarations.' Zammel was detained on September 2 and arrested on September 4.

Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel

FIRST RELEASED, THEN RE-ARRESTED

Lawyer Messaoudi had announced on September 11 that the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Siliana Court of First Instance had issued five arrest warrants against his client, who is a candidate in the presidential election, on charges of 'forgery of endorsements.'

Following an appeal, Zammel was released to be tried without detention on September 6, but was re-detained by security forces immediately after leaving the prison.

As the prison sentence is not yet final, Zammel's presidential candidacy remains active. The presidential candidate is expected to appeal the court's decision before the elections.