The Mayor of Derna, a city in Libya demolished by devastating floods, finds himself behind bars as part of an unfolding investigation into the catastrophe that claimed thousands of lives in eastern Libya. Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi is among several officials facing charges related to the disaster, a tragedy that recently ignited public fury, with irate residents even setting fire to the mayor’s residence in protest.
The Office of the Attorney General, headquartered in the capital city of Tripoli, announced on Monday that these officials, responsible for overseeing the nation’s dam facilities, are now the subjects of a criminal case. Some of them, including Mr. al-Ghaithi, were already in custody pending trial, as reported by the BBC.
In a scathing statement, the Attorney General’s office laid bare a litany of alleged failures by these officials, ranging from mismanagement of funds earmarked for dam maintenance to neglecting essential precautions, which ultimately led to both loss of life and severe economic setbacks for Libya. Mr. al-Ghaithi, in particular, faces allegations of abuse of authority.
Libya’s complex political landscape, divided between rival administrations in the east and west, adds a layer of intrigue to this unfolding drama. Given that the Attorney General operates out of Tripoli in the west, the extent of their authority to order arrests in the east remains uncertain.
As the eastern government grimly reported that the death toll from the floods had climbed to a staggering 3,868, the Attorney General’s office hinted at ongoing investigations into other officials, suggesting that more arrests might follow in this gripping saga of accountability and justice.
SOURCE – https://www.bbc.com/
