Tunis: A Tunisian television host was sentenced to eight months in jail after a court ruled he offered to help a wanted businessman in exchange for an interview on his show, his lawyer said.
Samir El Wafi, one of the north African country`s most well-known TV personalities, was found guilty of influence-peddling and fraud, a court spokesman said.
His lawyer Abdelaziz Essid told AFP his team would appeal Tuesday`s sentencing.
Controversial host Wafi is best known for his weekly appearances on the private Al Hiwar Ettounsi channel. His show, "For Those Who Dare", features a different personality each Sunday who is grilled by the host.
Accused of sensationalism by his critics, Wafi has attracted a large fan base for his persistent questioning.
The presenter was found to have offered to intervene and "fix" the situation of on-the-run businessman Hamadi Touli -- a relative of one of former strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali`s brothers-in-law -- in exchange for agreeing to be interviewed on Wafi`s show.
Touli`s wife recorded a purported conversation between the businessman and Wafi in which a sum of money was discussed.
The host has always maintained that his promise to Touli was a ploy to get him to appear on his show.
