Case against PM Meloni regarding 'Libyan warlord' dropped in Italy

A new development has occurred in the case opened by prosecutors in Italy against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, and Undersecretary to the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano, following the detention and subsequent release in Italy of Libyan warlord Osama Elmasry Njeem, who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The court has dropped the case against Prime Minister Meloni. Meloni was accused in the same case of aiding and abetting a crime and misappropriating public funds.

In a statement following the decision, Meloni said, "The judges have dropped the case only against me," noting that they would continue to follow the ongoing case regarding Justice Minister Nordio, Interior Minister Piantedosi, and Undersecretary Mantovano. Meloni stated, "I maintain that this government has acted in harmony under my leadership. Every decision, especially one of such importance, was agreed upon. Therefore, it is absurd to demand that Piantedosi, Nordio, and Mantovano be tried instead of me."

LIBYAN WARLORD HAD BEEN RELEASED

The ICC, which is investigating allegations of serious crimes committed in Libya since the 2011 civil war, had issued an arrest warrant for Njeem on charges of being responsible for the murder, torture, and rape of detainees in Libya.

Prosecutors had taken action after Njeem, who was detained in the Italian city of Turin last January, was released and sent back to Libya on an official Italian aircraft.

Justice Minister Nordio stated that there were errors and inaccuracies in the arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Njeem, and that there was no other choice but to release him, describing the warrant as being "full of inaccuracies, omissions, inconsistencies, and contradictory conclusions." Justice Minister Nordio also stated that there was "uncertainty" regarding when Njeem allegedly committed the crimes, noting that the document claimed the crimes began in February 2011, but later specified February 2015.

News Source: İHA