BEIRUT: Hannibal Gadhafi, son of former Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi, was acquitted of defamation charges Tuesday. Judge Ghassan Khoury cleared Gadhafi of charges of defamation against the judiciary, a judicial source told The Daily Star. He will remain in custody pending a verdict in the parallel case regarding his knowledge and involvement in the 1978 disappearance of Amal Movement founder Imam Musa Sadr and two companions during a visit to Libya.
Investigative Judge Zaher Hamadeh had issued charges against Gadhafi for defaming the judiciary during a questioning session last December. Hamadeh issued the arrest warrant against Gadhafi saying the detainee made threats of violence during an interrogation over his knowledge of Sadr’s disappearance.
Sadr went missing along with two of his companions during an official visit to Libya in August 1978. Hannibal Gadhafi was a toddler at the time of Sadr’s disappearance.
Last week, Gadhafi apologized for slandering the judiciary during a questioning session. He had previously denied the charges as they were brought to court, adding “Judge Hamadeh provoked me when he described my father as a killer and a criminal before lawyers.”
He has previously claimed that his “father was innocent.”
Gadhafi’s lawyer told the presiding judge that his client “had no intention of threatening the [judge],” adding that the defendant’s remarks were not designed to insult.
Chadi Hussein, the attorney for Sadr’s family, issued a statement denouncing the acquittal. “The verdict issued today by Judge Khoury needs to be appealed immediately,” adding that the Higher Judicial Council and the Judicial Inspection need to question how Khoury came to the verdict, “It’s surprising that Khoury is not carrying out his duty in condemning the act of contempt and the threats [that have been made] against his colleagues.” The threats in question were made in the presence of Sadr’s family and friends.
The parallel trial into Gadhafi’s involvement in Sadr’s disappearance has progressed slowly after his former lawyer, Akram Azouri, quit the case in November accusing Lebanese authorities of conspiring against the judiciary.
Investigative Judge Zaher Hamadeh had issued charges against Gadhafi for defaming the judiciary during a questioning session last December. Hamadeh issued the arrest warrant against Gadhafi saying the detainee made threats of violence during an interrogation over his knowledge of Sadr’s disappearance.
Sadr went missing along with two of his companions during an official visit to Libya in August 1978. Hannibal Gadhafi was a toddler at the time of Sadr’s disappearance.
Last week, Gadhafi apologized for slandering the judiciary during a questioning session. He had previously denied the charges as they were brought to court, adding “Judge Hamadeh provoked me when he described my father as a killer and a criminal before lawyers.”
He has previously claimed that his “father was innocent.”
Gadhafi’s lawyer told the presiding judge that his client “had no intention of threatening the [judge],” adding that the defendant’s remarks were not designed to insult.
Chadi Hussein, the attorney for Sadr’s family, issued a statement denouncing the acquittal. “The verdict issued today by Judge Khoury needs to be appealed immediately,” adding that the Higher Judicial Council and the Judicial Inspection need to question how Khoury came to the verdict, “It’s surprising that Khoury is not carrying out his duty in condemning the act of contempt and the threats [that have been made] against his colleagues.” The threats in question were made in the presence of Sadr’s family and friends.
The parallel trial into Gadhafi’s involvement in Sadr’s disappearance has progressed slowly after his former lawyer, Akram Azouri, quit the case in November accusing Lebanese authorities of conspiring against the judiciary.
Source & Link : The Daily Star
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