“Detention order for lawyer Mehdi Zagrouba on grounds of flagrante delicto” (court spokesperson)

Tunis: Spokesperson for the Tunis Court of First Instance, Mohamed Zitouna, announced on Monday evening that the detention of lawyer Mehdi Zagrouba had been ordered in accordance with the provisions of Article 46 of the Lawyers' Decree, which allows for the detention of a lawyer in flagrante delicto.In a statement to TAP, Zitouna said that the lawyer in question had violently assaulted two security officers inside the Tunis Court of First Instance who were carrying out their duties within the framework of the law, and had also attempted to forcibly remove them from the court in order to obstruct the course of justice.The video footage of the assault was circulated on social media networks, which was confirmed by the surveillance cameras installed in the court, he said.Based on the case of flagrante delicto, the second central squad was ordered to launch an investigation, the two security officers concerned were heard and necessary arrangements were made, he said, adding that the suspect was later arrest ed.Investigations are ongoing to identify the other suspects and the law will be applied equally to all.Earlier on Monday evening, the Interior Ministry said the prosecution's "action" against a lawyer came after he was found guilty of "insulting a public official in the performance of his duties"."He and a second lawyer deliberately physically and verbally assaulted two security officers from the judicial police," it added.The ministry also said that the two lawyers in question had removed two security officers from the premises of the Palace of Justice and prevented them from carrying out their professional duties, which was documented in video footage circulating.Security officers, on Monday evening, arrested lawyer Mehdi Zagrouba, who was present at the lawyers' house in the capital, lawyer Samir Dilou had told TAP.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse