14/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU General Court maintains sanctions against nephew of former President Ben Ali. On Thursday 14 April, the General Court of the EU confirmed the legal basis of the extension for freezing the funds of Mehdi Ben Ali, the nephew of the former Tunisian President Ben Ali, for a period ranging from 31 January 2014 to 31 January 2015. In its decision (T-200/14), the Court ruled that on this occasion (see EUROPE 11052), the Council of the EU had made its decision appropriately due to the fact that Mr Ali was subject to a legal procedure Tunisia for embezzling public funds. At the beginning of the year, the Council also extended the freezing of funds until 31 January 2017 applicable to the interested party and 47 other Tunisian dignitaries (see EUROPE 11478). Mr Ali has so far not appealed against this most recent decision. (JK)