Tripoli, Libya (10 January) — The Attorney General’s Office announced last Friday that the Health Attaché and Financial Controller at the Libyan mission in Greece between 2011 and 2014 have been detained for embezzling over LD 575 million in state funds. These funds were originally allocated for the medical treatment of Libya’s war wounded at Greek hospitals.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Public Prosecutor determined that the healthcare contractors violated the regulations governing public money management. They are accused of diverting funds without proper hospital invoices to verify the medical services provided. The accused also failed to produce any evidence supporting the legitimacy of the disbursed funds and had disbursed money to individuals with no clear identity or relation to the State of Libya.
Moreover, financial amounts were allegedly given to individuals who were not Libyan nationals, and there are claims that the payments were made under false pretenses, with fabricated invoices for services not rendered.
After questioning the two suspects, the investigator ordered their detention pending further investigation and has initiated procedures to identify and hold accountable others involved in the fraudulent actions.
