TV host gets eight mnths jail

TUNIS:

Tunisian host was sentenced to eight
months jail after court rued he offered
to help a wanted businessman in exchange
for an interview on his show his lawyer said'

Samir EI Wafi one of the north African country
's most well knwn TV personalities was found
guilty of influence -peddling and fraud ,a court
spokesman said.

Controversal host Wafi is best known for
his weekly appearances on the private Al
 Hiwa Ettonunsi 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 s large fan base for his persistent
questioning.

The presenter was found to have offered to
intervene 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.

The host has always maintained that his
promise to Touli was a ploy ton get him
to appear on his show,AFP