• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Gadhafi Son Makes Brief Libyan Court Appearance

May 02, 2013

by Reuters

Saif al-Islam, son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, appeared in court on Thursday in the town of Zintan, where a militia has held him since his November 2011 capture, a local council official said.

Saif is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges, but his court appearance relates to charges that he gave information to an ICC lawyer last year that could endanger national security.

The ICC lawyer, Australian Melinda Taylor, was herself arrested and held for three weeks after the meeting. She has since said her detention proved that Saif al-Islam could not receive a fair trial in Libya and should be tried in The Hague.

The powerful armed group in Zintan, which spearheaded the capture of Tripoli from Gaddafi's forces in August 2011, has insisted on keeping Saif imprisoned in the town, about 140 km (87 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital.

The only defendant of 13 people called to appear in court on national security charges, Saif confirmed he was in the room when his name was called out and that his lawyers were present. The case was then postponed until September 19 because the defense’s case was incomplete.

During the hearing, Saif smiled and told reporters he was in good health.

Libya, which wants to try Saif al-Islam itself, has yet to indict him for war crimes, although the public prosecutor has said a case is being prepared and will soon go to court.

ICC lawyers have noted that Saif could face the death penalty if convicted in the North African state — an outcome that would be welcome to many Libyans who suffered under Gadhafi's 42-year rule and in the revolt that toppled him.

The ICC, which is only allowed to try cases if national legal systems are unable or unwilling to deal with them, declined to comment on the proceedings in Zintan.

The president of Libya's Human Rights Commission pointed to Saif's appearance as an indication he was being looked after in jail and could be tried fairly within the country.