The Libyan Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Soor, confirmed that criminals will not get away without punishment, and all security files will remain open until the investigations are completed, the right is returned to their owners and the punishment is imposed on the perpetrators despite the security and exceptional conditions that Libya is going through.
In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Soor explained the issues of great concern in Libya, including issues related to the loyalists of the former regime.
Regarding the situation of Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the Attorney General said he had been issued an acquittal ruling, and the Attorney General at the time sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice and the government to implement the ruling to release him.
Al-Soor added: “Al-Saadi’s order is up to the government, when the conditions are appropriate, it is supposed to implement the judicial ruling to release him.”
Talking about the Abu Salim prison case, Al-Soor said: “Now, the Abu Salim file is returned to a new department in the Court of Appeal after the ruling was overturned.”
Al-Soor announced that whoever committed a crime will be referred to the court, which will determine his imprisonment or release, pledging that “all issues related to corruption and public security, which are reflected on the national peace and the citizens’ conditions, will be the subject of his attention.”
He denied, in his statements, that there are neglected cases, saying: “This is not true at all .. All cases of public opinion are still open and are being investigated.”
He added: “But completing investigations, arresting the perpetrators, and insurances are a matter of interference by other authorities, in addition to the fact that sometimes the matter requires arresting people outside the country, and therefore the police forces must be able to arrest and summon them in accordance with the decision of the Attorney General in order to be able to complete the investigations.”
Al-Soor explained: “All cases are subject to consideration and attention. What is fulfilled is referred to the courts for adjudication, and what is not fulfilled remains a place of work and waiting until it is completed, and no one will escape punishment no matter how long the period is.”
He also pledged to work “as much as possible and with effort through the Libyan justice system to realize the right to consider all cases that affect human rights and public funds … cases in which the decision creates a kind of security and stability in the country and pushes towards the civil state, which will be focused on.”
Al-Soor called for creating a general deterrence in the country, so that the law is applied to everyone, adding: “Circumstances may serve some of the criminals, but this does not mean that they will escape punishment all the time. Their files remain open until they are completed, and then refer all those who committed a crime against the Libyan people to justice, whether they are cases of human rights violations, corruption and money laundering, or those who have survived the crime.”
About his future plan that the Attorney General’s office will work on in light of reports talking about the spread of crime and corruption, he announced: “We will focus on the main files that occupy Libyan public opinion, including issues of terrorism and corruption, so that we can contribute to creating an atmosphere of security and social peace through activating the justice system.”
Regarding the environment in which justice institutions operate in Libya, he urged support for all prosecution offices across the country, emphasizing that his office “needs a lot of capabilities to be able to fulfill its assigned role in light of the lack of security, protection and insurance for the headquarters and members.”
The Attorney General concluded his speech to “Asharq Al-Awsat” newspaper saying: “We must have harmony with the legislative and executive authorities in order to be able to perform the work required of us in the fullest duty. It is imposed on us by the national duty, and society hopes for it.”
