EU wants prompt release of Göldi
A top European Union official has said she is hoping for a quick release of Max Göldi, the Swiss citizen serving a four-month prison sentence in Libya.
Cecilia Malmström, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, said “lots of people were involved” in working on the issue.
But she did not say on Monday whether new discussions mediated by Spain and Germany would be taking place this week. These had been announced by Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa.
Earlier, Göldi’s lawyer revealed the Swiss had been moved to a windowless prison cell. The former country director for engineering giant ABB also has no access to hot water, Salah Zahaf told the Swiss News Agency on Sunday.
Göldi has been prohibited from leaving Libya since July 2008, shortly after the arrest of one of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi’s sons in a Geneva hotel. Göldi began serving a prison sentence for immigration violations in February.
Prison officials in Tripoli said Göldi was moved because he was in a wing with 90 serious offenders. The Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed Göldi had moved but said prison authorities were going to find a better solution for Göldi, who receives six visits from Swiss diplomats per week.
Amnesty International says Göldi’s health has improved since he has started receiving medication. Zahaf said the same but noted he was “not satisfied” with Göldi’s conditions.
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