A Tripoli Criminal Court has sentenced a former Libyan ambassador to Italy to ten years in prison for illegal financial gains, according to the Office of the Attorney General on Sunday evening. The court reviewed evidence regarding the abuse of his official position and found sufficient proof that the former ambassador had exploited his authority for personal financial benefit. As a result, the court issued a ten-year prison sentence and ordered him to return the illicitly obtained funds.
The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that the prosecution had effectively demonstrated how the defendant misused his official role to accumulate personal wealth unlawfully. In its final session, the court not only sentenced him to prison but also imposed financial restitution for the wrongfully obtained gains. Following this verdict, the Libyan authorities have taken steps to enforce the sentence through international cooperation mechanisms in criminal matters, ensuring the return of the illegally acquired assets.
Libya has recently been dealing with multiple high-profile cases of financial corruption. For example, in August 2024, the Libyan Attorney General ordered the detention of Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Abdul Sadiq on charges of financial corruption. He was accused of coercing a corporate accountant into authorizing a massive €457.6 million expenditure without proper oversight, which was deemed inconsistent with his official duties. This case highlighted deep-rooted corruption issues within Libya’s key sectors, such as the oil industry, which contributes significantly to the nation’s economy.
Additionally, Libya’s Audit Bureau has uncovered widespread corruption across several government departments, including the misuse of public funds, manipulation of public bids, and payment for services that were never rendered. These findings, outlined in their 2022 report, reflect a broader culture of corruption that Libya has been struggling to address. The report also pointed out how some officials diverted public funds for personal or third-party gains, further damaging Libya’s financial transparency.
Moreover, other recent incidents include the indictment of Libyan officials for complicity with foreign actors in international litigations, aiming to weaken Libya’s standing in global disputes.
