To keep one's permanent residence status, a person must remain in Canada for at least two years out of every five. His lawyers admitted he had failed to meet that requirement.

Trabelsi did show up for his hearing in late April after failing in a legal bid to have it held behind closed doors. His lawyers said that he feared for his safety, given the media coverage and Tunisian protesters present for the public hearing.

Trabelsi has been charged and sentenced in absentia in his native Tunisia. In September, Trabelsi was sentenced to 15 years and fined $500,000 for corruption, unlawful trade of precious metals and unlawful transfer of foreign currency. In December, he received a 21-month sentence for unlawful possession of archaeological pieces.