Italy PM Meloni investigated over release of Libyan official: What we know
The Italian government is facing scrutiny after repatriating a Libyan security official wanted by the International Criminal Court.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that she is being investigated over the release earlier this month of a Libyan official wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The investigation marks a potentially significant escalation in the case, which has caught the attention of the United Nations and activists.
What happened: Meloni said in a video on X that she is under investigation by Rome’s chief prosecutor, Francesco Le Voi, over the release of Libyan police official Osama Najim, also known as Osama al-Masri. The Italian premier is accused of aiding and abetting a crime and misusing of public funds. She called the investigation politically motivated and vowed to fight back.
“I will not be intimidated,” Meloni said in the video.
Najim was reportedly arrested on Jan. 19 in the northern Italian city of Turin after attending a soccer game on a warrant from the ICC. State broadcaster RAI reported on Jan. 21 that a local court reviewing the arrest declined to approve it. Najim was released and sent back to Libya, per the outlet. Video on social media the same day showed Najim arriving in Tripoli on an Italian government plane.
