Legal representatives of the Libyan government have announced
former intelligence cheif, Abdullah al-Senussi, will face trial in May
at the earliest and will not face a summary trial and execution in the
coming days as claimed by his defence lawyer, according to U.S.
newspaper, The New York Times.
Libya submitted a report on Monday to International Criminal Court, where Senussi is wanted for crimes against humanity, outlining their intentions for the trial. The request was issued by officials at The Hague based court last Thursday after Senussi’s lawyer raised the alarm with them, and the British Foreign Office, on his clients treatment in prison and rumours of a summary trial.
A diplomat familiar with the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The New York Times because of the delicacy of the matter, said that American and French investigators had been allowed to interrogate Senussi in Mauritania, where he was arrested last year. Mauritania has since extradited him to Libya in September 2012.
The Libyan GNC still appear to be in confusion over how the trial will take place. Although they seem settled on trying him in Libya and not handing him over to the ICC, who will actually conduct the trial is another matter. The Libyan filing to the ICC said that although an earlier plan had called for Mr. Senussi him to be prosecuted in a military trial, “this no longer appears to be the case.” But, it added, “a final decision has yet to be made.”
Libya submitted a report on Monday to International Criminal Court, where Senussi is wanted for crimes against humanity, outlining their intentions for the trial. The request was issued by officials at The Hague based court last Thursday after Senussi’s lawyer raised the alarm with them, and the British Foreign Office, on his clients treatment in prison and rumours of a summary trial.
A diplomat familiar with the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The New York Times because of the delicacy of the matter, said that American and French investigators had been allowed to interrogate Senussi in Mauritania, where he was arrested last year. Mauritania has since extradited him to Libya in September 2012.
The Libyan GNC still appear to be in confusion over how the trial will take place. Although they seem settled on trying him in Libya and not handing him over to the ICC, who will actually conduct the trial is another matter. The Libyan filing to the ICC said that although an earlier plan had called for Mr. Senussi him to be prosecuted in a military trial, “this no longer appears to be the case.” But, it added, “a final decision has yet to be made.”
The filing also said there was no chance of an
imminent trial, let alone a “summary execution.” It said the defense
had made “sensationalist claims without a shred of evidence.”
Ben Emmerson, who acts as Mr. Senussi’s
court-appointed lawyer, said in an e-mail that a secret military trial
was still possible.
“The position is quite simple,” Mr. Emmerson
wrote. “Libya is obliged to hand Mr. al-Senussi to The Hague
immediately. Instead, they ‘bought’ him for $200 million from
Mauritania, and have held him hostage ever since.” Referring to the
court, he added, “I would expect the ICC to treat these submissions with
the skepticism they deserve.”
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