By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 2 March 2013:
Answering a question from the media at Thursday’s press conference, Prime Zeidan revealed that high profile political . . .[restrict]prisoners such as Baghdadi Mahmoudi and Saif al-Islam Qaddafi were under the direct and independent control of the Justice department and the judiciary.
Regarding rumours about the poor health of Baghdadi Mahmoudi, the last Qaddafi era prime minister, Zeidan denied these. He stressed that Baghdadi was getting his medicine regularly.
Asked when it could be expected that either would be put on trial, Zeidan added that while his government would like them to be put on trial as soon as possible, it was not within his government’s power to decide.
The judiciary system is totally “independent” in Libya, he stressed and that his government “could not even enquire about prisoners. We are informed from time to time” about them, he added.
Regarding the exact timing of the trials, Zeidan said that that was up to the judge. He guessed that the timing was affected by issues of “proof, evidence, statements etc”
“They don’t take orders from politicians”, he stressed, referring to Libya’s new justice system.
Asked by foreign media if Baghdadi could be visited, Zeidan added that it was up to the judiciary and Prosecutor General, not the executive”.
“They are innocent until proven guilty”, Zeidan concluded. [/restrict]
