TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisian authorities are putting property confiscated from ousted Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali up for auction. That includes a pair of miniature gold sphinxes, a diamond-encrusted pen and a staggering 39 luxury cars.
Officials hope the sale, which was inaugurated by Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali in Tunis on Saturday, will fetch $12.9 million for the state.
One of the rarities up for grabs is a super-pricey Mercedes that belonged to Ben Ali’s nephew. Mohammed Lassaad Hamayed of Tunisia’s confiscation committee calls the car “a handmade gem made of carbon fibers that costs more than [$2.6 million].”
He says “only Mohamed VI [the King of Morocco] has a similar one.”
Ben Ali was ousted by a popular uprising in January 2011.
Front Section, Pages 14 on 12/23/2012