French prosecutors have called for an 18-month prison sentence and a €10,000 fine against former Acting Libyan Honorary Consul in Marseille, Samir Al-Tawil, who faces bribery accusations. They also requested that he be banned from entering French territory for 10 years.
According to the French newspaper La Provence, the prosecutor stated: “Everything was going well until the businessman filed a complaint about threats made by the consul, who allegedly demanded a commission.”
Samir Al-Tawil, who served as Libya’s honorary consul in 2021, is being tried in absentia by the Criminal Court of Marseille. He is accused of receiving bribes from a Syrian refugee contractor as part of renovation works at the Libyan Consulate located in the city’s eighth arrondissement.
During court testimony, the contractor admitted: “I gave him €5,700 in cash. I knew it was illegal, but I had no choice—otherwise, he would have killed me.”
The contractor further claimed that after he filed his complaint, the threats intensified. He alleged: “When the consul found out, he told me he would pay someone €1 million to kill me.” The contractor said he was also forced to issue three checks totaling €40,000, which he later blocked.
Speaking through a translator, the contractor explained: “I left the site but returned later. He said he would sue me for failing to execute the contract, and that he was untouchable because of diplomatic immunity.”
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting growing concerns over abuses of diplomatic privileges and misconduct among consular officials.
