The lawyer for Abdullah Al-Senussi, the former intelligence chief of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, expressed confidence in an acquittal due to flaws and corruption in the investigations.
“Acquittal is certain if the case undergoes a fair trial that respects the rights, and guarantees of the accused,” stated lawyer Ahmed Nashad.
Nashad squarely placed responsibility on the prosecutor general for the failure to bring his client to court nine times.
In a statement to the “Fawasel” platform, Nashad urged human rights defenders to take effective action, and not remain content with empty slogans. He called on them to attend trial sessions to witness the violations of the accused’s right to self-defence.
Nashad emphasized that the “laws of general amnesty issued by the General National Congress and the Libyan Parliament did not result in the release of any political prisoner or detainee, since the political change in 2011 until now.”
He clarified that supporters of the previous regime that were released were based on medical committee reports, not the amnesty law.
Earlier this month, Al-Senussi’s trial was postponed once again. The Tripoli Court of Appeals has deferred the trial to 8 January, citing the non-appearance of Al-Senussi for the ninth consecutive session.
In December 2022, the Al-Senussi family threatened to “close all vital institutions in the south of the country, if the government does not release him and his companions.”
In press remarks, Al-Senussi’s son said the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba “cannot be trusted.”
“We ask the people of Fezzan, the East, and the West of Libya, to stand by us because this government cannot be trusted. Dbaiba has neither transparency nor credibility for us in the Southern region,” he said.
He noted that the health condition of his father is unstable, and that he underwent three heart surgeries. “We thank everyone who fights against the extradition of Al-Senussi, and everyone who stands against Dbaiba and his family,” he noted.
The head of the Supreme Council of the Fezzan Tribes, Harun Ali Arhuma threatened to close the oil fields in the southern region if the government took steps to extradite Al-Senussi.
Arhuma held the GNU responsible for the safety of Al-Senussi.
In statements to Libya Al-Hadath, he said that there is news circulating that Washington has asked the GNU to extradite Al-Senussi. “If that happened, there will be an unexpected escalation,” he warned.
“The valves of the Man-made River, and the southern oil fields will be closed,” he said.
Arhuma said that Al-Senussi was ill inside his prison cell. “The case (Lockerbie) was settled politically and legally between Libya and the United States, and ended with an agreement and compensation paid in the past,” he explained.