A Tunisian court on Friday sentenced four women to jail after they were convicted of buying endorsement signatures for a potential rival to President Kais Saied in the upcoming presidential elections.

The Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of Jendouba sentenced three women to two years in prison and a fourth woman, who is currently on the run, to four years in prison. The court also deprived all four women of their right to vote for 10 years. The women were arrested for collecting sponsorships in exchange for money on behalf of a presidential candidate.

The court’s spokesman, Alaeddine Aouadi, stated that the judicial police brigade of Jendouba provided evidence leading to an investigation by the public prosecutor into the distribution of money to influence voters. Three of the defendants reportedly admitted to receiving promises of employment from the parties they were working for and were detained, while the fourth managed to escape.

There have been allegations against the ruling government of making the election process constrained for candidates. In July, the Court of First Instance in Tunisia sentenced opposition leader Lotfi Mraihi to eight months in prison, banned him from contesting elections for life and fined him for allegedly influencing votes with gifts and cash. Mraihi, a critic of President Kais Saied, and other party officials face additional charges of money laundering and unauthorized financial activities.

The upcoming 2024 Tunisian presidential elections are scheduled to be held on October 6. These elections will mark the first presidential vote since President Kais Saied’s self-coup in 2021. Saied dissolved the parliament, suspended the activities of the Assembly and granted himself the right to rule by decree. Amid growing economic hardships, including high unemployment and inflation, the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process are being closely scrutinized.