By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A senior member of Libya’s judicial police, accused of war crimes, has been arrested by Italian authorities acting on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified as Najeem Osema Almasri Habish, was apprehended in the northern city of Turin, Reuters quoted the source as saying. The case has been forwarded to the justice ministry and the Court of Appeal in Rome.
However, while in Libya, he is listed in government records as Osama Njeem, according to Italy’s Ministry of Justice.
Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio is considering passing the case to the Chief Prosecutor of Rome’s Court of Appeal, given the complexity of the matter, the ministry said in a statement.
The suspect was caught in a hotel following a tip-off from the international police body, Interpol, and was reportedly in Turin with other Libyans, La Repubblica reported.
The man managed a migrant detention centre in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, as part of his role with the judicial police, and was affiliated with the powerful military Special Deterrence Force (SDF), according to Italian media reports.
The SDF acts as a military police unit combating high-profile crimes, including kidnappings, murders, and illegal migration.
Like many other militias in western Libya, the SDF has been implicated in atrocities during the civil war that followed the overthrow and killing of longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
Recently, the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor issued arrest warrants over alleged crimes in Libya beyond the civil war, including those committed in detention facilities where human rights groups have documented abuses.
Italian migrant rescue charity Mediterranea hailed the arrest and renewed criticism of agreements under which Italy and the EU assist Libyan authorities in stopping migrant sea crossings to Europe.
The deals have been condemned by the United Nations, human rights experts, and international charities such as Doctors Without Borders for enabling widespread abuse and exploitation of migrants in Libya.
Ali Omar, head of Libya Crimes Watch, a local watchdog, praised Italy’s action as a “positive initiative” in holding accountable those responsible for atrocities against Libyans and migrants, including al-Masri.
“This move will certainly contribute to reducing the systematic violations committed on a large scale in the prisons of eastern and western Libya,” he told The Associated Press.
