Makhloufi, the founder of CHO Group, the country’s largest olive oil exporting company, was detained last year over accusations related to the management of a state-owned agricultural estate in the Sfax region. The property, known as Henchir Chaâl, contains around 400,000 olive trees.
His spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations.
The decision comes after several months of pre-trial detention, during which concerns were raised within the olive oil industry over the potential disruption to export operations. A trial date has not yet been determined.
Tunisia is expecting a strong olive oil season this year, with production forecast to rise by around 50% compared to last year, reaching a record estimate of 500,000 tonnes, according to the head of the Olive Producers Chamber.