The Criminal Chamber of the South Tripoli Court of First Instance has sentenced the Chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), Ali Mahmoud Hassan, to one year in prison and dismissal from his post. The ruling, issued on March 30, 2026, stems from charges of abuse of power and regulatory violations related to his refusal to execute a judicial order in favor of Mohsen Derregia. The court noted that the disputed administrative decision had already been annulled by the administrative judiciary, holding the defendant liable for legal costs.
In response, the LIA’s Director of Legal and Compliance, Salah Fakroun, challenged the ruling’s validity, labeling it “legally void” because it was issued in absentia despite the defendant’s known location. Fakroun argued that this constitutes a serious breach of fair trial guarantees, noting that such judgments are legally vacated upon formal challenge. The LIA is currently pursuing legal action to demand an urgent investigation into the procedural circumstances of the case, emphasizing that justice must rely on procedural integrity and the protection of litigation rights.