The trials of Max Göldi and Rachid Hamdani, two Swiss nationals held in Tripoli since July 2008, have been put back by two weeks.
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The Swiss foreign ministry said this weekend that the trial of Göldi, set for January 2, would now begin on January 16, and that of Hamdani, set for January 3, had been rearranged for January 17.
Göldi and Hamdani, who work for Swiss companies, have been prevented from leaving Libya since July 2008. On December 2, they were sentenced to 16 months in prison by a Libyan court for visa irregularities and tax evasion.
Hamdani’s lawyer said his client didn’t appear in court on Sunday, prompting the postponement. Attorney Saleh al-Zahif provided no details. On Saturday, Göldi didn’t appear in court for his trial.
The two men 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 they abused their domestic staff at a city hotel.
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Second Libya trials postponed to January
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Max Göldi and Rachid Hamdani had been scheduled to be tried on Saturday and Sunday respectively on charges of conducting illegal economic activities. Their trials will take place on January 2 and January 3, spokesman Erik Reumann said. The two men have already been convicted of visa violations in a dispute stemming back to the…
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The two men did not attend the original trial, at which they were convicted of visa irregularities and tax evasion. Their lawyer, Salah Zahaf, told the AFP news agency on Monday that they would go to the court in person, and would return to the embassy afterwards. He did not say whether they had been…
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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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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.