The Swiss foreign minister has described the situation of two Swiss businessmen prevented from leaving Libya for 18 months as a “humanitarian drama”.
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Micheline Calmy-Rey told the diplomatic press club in Bern on Thursday that the two men were living in a situation of great uncertainty, which was an extremely difficult experience for them.
Switzerland has informed the United Nations, and is examining all the legal angles, but “it is more complicated than it appears,” she said.
In Tripoli, meanwhile, the appeal hearing of Max Göldi, one of the two businessmen, was put back for the second time to January 24.
On December 2 Göldi and Rachid Hamdani, who work for Swiss companies, were sentenced to 16 months in prison by a Libyan court for visa irregularities and tax evasion.
January 24 is also the date of Hamdani’s appeal, which had also been put back.
The two have been living in the Swiss embassy in Tripoli for several weeks, for fear of being arrested if they step outside. However, the court has said it will not hear their appeal if they do not attend in person.
The two also face a separate trial on charges of conducting illegal business activities.
They were taken into custody in July 2008 shortly after Geneva police arrested Hannibal Gaddafi, a son of Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi, and his wife on charges that they abused their domestic staff at a city hotel. The servants later received compensation and the charges were withdrawn.
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Detained Swiss in Libya hampered by legal fog
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Max Göldi and Rachid Hamdani are scheduled in early January to be tried for a second time in Libyan court, this time over business and tax violations. One thing is already evident: the Libyans have ignored their own laws handling the case. “The rules for a fair trial are very clear,” said Daniel Graf, a…
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Rachid Hamdani and Max Göldi have been held in Libya since July 2008 after the arrest in Geneva of a son of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi on charges, later dropped, of mistreating two domestic employees The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the sentences on Tuesday evening and said the men were tried in absentia and were…
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After a 60-day deadline for normalising relations between both countries ran out last week, the Swiss government’s new strategy for securing the release of two Swiss businessmen from Libya remains cloaked in mystery. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey has accused Libya of “kidnapping” the two men, who have been prevented from leaving Tripoli for some…
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On September 1, 1969, a small group of military officers led by then 27-year-old army officer Moammar Gaddafi overthrew Libya’s King Idris’ government. The revolutionary officers abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed the new republic. Gaddafi is to this day, referred to as the “Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution” in government statements and the…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.