Tunisia has Temporarily Suspended the Operations of Major Ride-hailing Services due to Allegations of Money Laundering and Tax Evasion

Tunisia has taken a bold step by suspending major ride-hailing companies operating in the country due to allegations of money laundering and tax evasion. The government has suspended the operations of the two biggest car-hailing companies, TaxiChebs and TaxiNegriz, after an investigation by the National Guard financial division which uncovered suspicious actions linked to the apps, state media reports.

In a report released by the Tunisian interior ministry on Tuesday, it said that several ride-hailing apps violated the country’s anti-corruption laws by transferring funds abroad using unauthorized bank accounts as well as distributing their cars without getting licenses. The ministry said authorities have now taken approximately 12 million dinars ($3. 8 million) from accounts belonging to the companies involved in the investigation. It added that their offices have been closed all over the country. The ministry could not give out names of the firms cited, but sources told UNIANS it was Bolt, an Estonian ride-hailing service that is the primary target.

In addition, it’s the first time the Tunisian presidential police have put under police investigation private transport services, ” a statement by an official at the local government’s airport. Tunisia has long had the reputation as a hotbed for corruption, with the president, Kais Saied, frequently visiting transit hubs unannounced to stress poor infrastructure and mismanagement. Last year, his administration arrested dozens of officials at TRANSTU, Tunisia’s state-run mass transit agency, for tax evasion and mismanagement over what they bought. Now, for the first time, private transport services are being investigated.

A growing class of ride-hailing companies like Bolt have emerged in Tunisia as a response to the state of public transport, which has experienced years of low investment and overburdening thus forcing many people to use private taxi apps for daily transportation. But this lucrative market has also been under scrutiny by the police, as authorities have filed accusations against the companies against money laundering, tax evasion and fraudulent operations.

The apps used unauthorised bank accounts to illegally withdraw money, and had failed to comply with licensing regulations, the government said. The apps have been suspended by major ride-hailing companies, the government said in a statement. The suspension of key taxi ride-hailing companies is a major step in the government’s efforts to tackle corruption and financial crime.

Bolt’s suspension is particularly noteworthy as it is the largest operator in Tunisia’s private transport sector and, while Bolt has been a target of regulators in other African nations over issues such as licensing and driver pay, this is the first time it has faced allegations like these in Tunisia and the company has yet to publicly respond to the claims.

Tunisia suspends major ride-hailing companies amid growing concerns about corruption and financial misconduct in both public and private transport sectors. With the growing suspicion of corruption in public transport and financial misconduct within the private sector, the government has announced that it will stop operating major car service providers at the earliest possible opportunity.

The suspension of major ride-hailing services in Tunisia only underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in business. With millions of dollars seized and offices shut down, the authorities are sending a strong message that illegal activity will not be tolerated. As citizens wait for more news on the unfolding story, it remains to be seen how these companies will handle this and will they be able to regain trust back in a market they once had a majority in.

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