Libya’s former Minister of Economy and Industry, in the government of Abdullah Al-Thani was remanded on corruption charges. An estimated 15 million Libyan dinars were “deliberately disposed of,” according to a statement issued by the Attorney General.
This reportedly took place when he was managing the crisis in the Warshafana region, the statement noted.
It added that he “authorized the assignment of a supply business to a company managed by his relatives. He also accepted medicines and medical equipment that did not meet the required specifications. The accused wasted dozens of state-owned motor vehicles, by refusing to register their data in government records.”
The Attorney General’s Office added that the Public Prosecutor heard from the then-Prime Minister, Abdullah Al-Thani regarding the charges against the minister.
According to the statement, the investigations “proved that the minister’s behaviour deviated from his duties.” The investigator ordered the minister to be remanded in custody. A criminal case was opened at the judiciary, and he was referred to court.
The Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour is leading a campaign against corruption in the Libyan state institutions. Dozens of officials and diplomats were arrested in connection with embezzlement, corruption, and abuse of power. Libyan banking officials were also arrested over embezzlement charges.
On December 2021, the Education Minister of the outgoing Government of National Unity (GNU), Ali Al-Zanati was detained as part of an investigation into corruption related to the delay in the supply of school textbooks in the country.
After almost a year, Al Zanati was released and announced his resignation via a video recording.
“It is difficult for me to continue as health minister in the GNU, whose mandate expired according to the Geneva political agreement, and the legislative authority,” Al-Zanati said.
The Minister indicated that Libya is “suffering from severe political divisions amid a lack of political consensus and national unity,” stressing that the “country is heading toward further division and fragmentation.”
