Nabil Karoui built a career telling stories through television. Tunisian judges have now written a less flattering episode about money, taxation and financial corruption.
In late February 2026, a specialised criminal chamber in Tunis sentenced Nabil Karoui and his brother Ghazi to twelve years in prison in absentia.
The court convicted them of money laundering, financial corruption and tax evasion. The judgment also included fines exceeding 37 million Tunisian dinars and confiscation of bank accounts and assets.
Nabil Karoui, founder of Nessma TV and a former presidential candidate, had already combined media influence and political ambition. His brother operated more discreetly behind the scenes. Together they embodied a modern overlap between communication, business and political power.
The convictions were issued in absentia because the brothers left Tunisia in 2021 and have since been considered fugitives. That creates the peculiar image of a heavy sentence delivered to two empty chairs.
A conviction in absentia may be challenged under the applicable procedure if the defendants return or are brought before the court. The judgment therefore exists, but enforcement remains dependent on location and cooperation.
The case also follows an earlier conviction linked to foreign financing of Nabil Karoui’s 2019 presidential campaign, adding another chapter to a long conflict between the Karoui network and Tunisian justice.
The justice system won the case and lost the defendants. Twelve years in prison currently comes with a geographical suspension.
Key points
- Nabil and Ghazi Karoui received 12-year sentences in absentia.
- The convictions concern money laundering, financial corruption and tax evasion.
- Fines exceeded 37 million Tunisian dinars.
- Assets and bank accounts were ordered confiscated.
- The brothers have reportedly been fugitives since 2021.
Magouilles & Compagnie verdict
Verdict: a serious conviction, although the practical challenge remains locating the people meant to serve it.
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