Former Tunisair CEO Sentenced in Fake Diploma Scandal
A Tunisian court has sentenced former Tunisair (TU) CEO Khaled Chelly to three years in prison and former union secretary-general Najmeddine Mzoughi to four years for their involvement in a recruitment fraud scheme involving forged diplomas and corruption, according to local media reports.
Both Chelly and Mzoughi were arrested in July 2024—Mzoughi while attempting to flee to Libya and Chelly shortly afterward—and have remained in detention since. Authorities are also investigating eight additional individuals linked to the case.
The Tunis Court of First Instance issued the verdicts on October 24, as reported by L’Economiste Maghrébin, Tunisie Numérique, and Mosaique FM.
The case stems from internal investigations at Tunisair that uncovered widespread irregularities in hiring practices, including the use of fake academic credentials and manipulation of recruitment processes. Prosecutors accused the defendants of abusing public office for personal benefit and violating employment regulations within the state-owned carrier.
The scandal has further intensified scrutiny of corruption within Tunisia’s public enterprises, with calls for deeper reforms to ensure transparency and merit-based recruitment in the country’s aviation sector.
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