A Tunisian court on 20 June sentenced former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabulsi to 35 years in jail, approximately six months after being overthrown in a revolution many believe was the catalyst for the ‘Arab Spring’ (MEES, 21 February). Mr Ben Ali, who has since been in Saudi Arabia, was found guilty of theft and the illegal possession of large sums of cash, drugs, weapons, jewelry and archaeological artifacts.