Libyan general accused of crimes against humanity detained in Tripoli

Libyan general accused of crimes against humanity detained in Tripoli
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A Libyan general wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity has been apprehended in Tripoli.

Osama Almasri Najim, the former chief of Libya’s judicial police, was arrested over allegations of torturing prisoners, leading to the death of one, at Tripoli’s main prison, Libya’s prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.

The Italian government faced severe criticism in January after Najim was arrested in the northern city of Turin on the ICC warrant only to be released two days later and flown back to Tripoli on an Italian air force plane.

Najim had been questioned about the alleged abuse against 10 prisoners and the death of one, the statement said. The arrest was made “given that sufficient evidence was established to support the charges”, the statement added.

He was arrested in Turin after attending a football match before being released and repatriated. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said he had been quickly repatriated because he was considered a risk to Italy’s national security.

Critics accused her administration of pandering to Libya because of its reliance on the north African country to stem the flow of migration towards Italy’s southern shores.

The ICC said Italy had failed in its obligations under the Rome statute, the court’s founding treaty, to execute the warrant and surrender Najim while he was on Italian territory.

The case prompted Rome prosecutors to investigate Meloni and three other government officials on suspicion of aiding and abetting a crime and embezzlement of public funds over use of the air force jet, although they were later cleared.

In May, Libya accepted the authority of the ICC to investigate alleged war crimes in the country despite not being party to the Rome statute.