Tunis: 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 today, will fetch some USD 12.9 million for the state.
One of the rarities up for grabs is a super-pricy 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 USD 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.
PTI
