The Attorney General, Sideeg Al-Sour, reviewed a huge number of cases and investigations during a one-and-a-half-hour press conference in Tripoli yesterday. Al-Sour explained that his office is not always able to reveal or publicise its work, but that does not mean that they are not investigating and acting against crimes.
He said cases take a long time to investigate but that they are being pursued.
He reminded that many crimes do not have a statute of limitations and that while their perpetrators may be shielded behind weapons today, the Attorney General’s Office will continue to follow up on the cases – across all of Libya.
National ID Numbers
There have been many claims in the media and in public clashes between the Central Bank of Libya over the years that the National ID Number database is flawed. False NID Numbers can be used to open bank accounts, obtain state-sector salaries, obtain passports, register on the electoral register, and obtain state allowances.
At the press conference, Al-Sour revealed that the Civil Registry Authority had created a committee to which a prosecutor is responsible, to compare the NID Number database with original paper documents.
8.37 million registered as Libyan citizens
The data on the Civil Registry Authority system showed that there were 1,733,000 Libyan families and 8,370,000 Libyan citizens.
48,000 false National ID numbers issued to non-Libyans
The investigations discovered 48,000 false National ID numbers issued to non-Libyans. These have now been suspended and investigations are underway regarding their wider implications.
64,000 National ID numbers on system not found on paper records
Another 64,000 National ID numbers were found in the NID Number system that were not in the Civil Registry system.
Forged voting cards
Al-Sour revealed the discovery of 15,000 forged electoral cards during the 2012 National Congress elections. For the December 2021 planned elections, 3,829 forged ballot papers were discovered.
Benefits and grant fraud
For the children’s allowance, the investigations discovered 23,000 beneficiaries at a value of more than LD 7 million, in just 3 months, who are not registered in the Civil Registry system.
There were 2,543 people who received a grant from the (hard currency) personal purposes system, with a value of more than 98 million dinars, who are not registered with the Civil Registry System. Passports were obtained by 17,472 people who held incorrect NID Numbers.
State-sector salaries were disbursed to 8,690 citizens using forged NID Numbers. The number of citizens who receive salaries from the state is 2,014, 908. A total of 88,819 incorrect NID Numbers benefited from about 209 million dinars.
Al-Sour assured that his office will follow up on all those state-employees responsible for the issue of false NID Numbers.
The bread crisis: 601 tests taken, and 232 bakeries closed
Regarding the bread crisis, Al-Sour reported that 601 samples were collected from bakeries all over Libya and transferred to an international laboratory in Germany for analysis, to ensure that they are free of all harmful substances.
Results of the tests are awaited and Al-Sour assured that his office will take all measures against those involved in any suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, he revealed that 232 bakeries were closed across Libya, 60 in Tripoli, 20 in Benghazi and 53 in Misurata.
While no evidence of the carcinogenic bread additive, Potassium Bromate, has been found in any Libyan bread, Al-Sour revealed that the bakeries that were closed were for infringements of laws regarding the requirements of general cleanliness and lack of health certificates for employees, payment of taxes or work permits for expats.
Tarhuna mass graves: 259 bodies found, 376 arrest warrants issued
regarding the Tarhuna mass grave crimes, Al-Sour revealed that 259 bodies have been exhumed from 82 cemeteries in Tarhuna and its suburbs, 120 of whom were identified.
Arrest warrants to 376 people have been issued wanted in the Tarhuna mass graves case and 280 criminal cases are still under investigation. Ten cases have been referred to court.
IS/ISIS/Daesh
Al-Sour assured that those being held under arrest for suspicion of terror crimes or for being members of IS/ISIS/DAESH are still being investigated. Many had been released whilst others have been charged or convicted.
The Murzuq incident
With regards to the case of the assault on the people of Murzuq and the displacement of its people, 209 defendants were identified, and arrest warrants and travel bans were issued against them, and procedures for returning the displaced will begin next week, he revealed
Militias cooperating and not above the law
The Attorney General said all security services (state-recognized militias), including the Rada/Deterrence apparatus, help his office implement the law according to its requests and in accordance with procedural legitimacy and human rights. He reiterated that his office depends on other agencies, especially enforcement agencies, to implement the law.
He admitted that the process was not always perfect but stressed that nobody is above the law, implying that this included militias.
Stability helpful to implementing the law
In concluding, Al-Sour looked forward to stability and the approval of a constitution as stability helps the work of his office and reduces the causes of crime.
The bread crisis
Attorney General to investigates bakery use of banned potassium bromate in bread (libyaherald.com)
National ID Number
Assassination attempt on Tripoli Civil Registry Authority acting head (libyaherald.com)
Kidnappings linked to attempted control of Civil Registry Authority database (libyaherald.com)
Civil Registry Authority taken over by ‘’extremists’’ (libyaherald.com)
