Prison Sentences for Agricultural Bank Officials Over Financial Corruption

Tripoli: Prison sentences have been issued against officials at the Agricultural Bank’s Qasr Bin Ghashir branch on charges of financial corruption. The Criminal Court has delivered its verdict, sentencing a former manager and a credit officer for their involvement in corrupt practices.

According to Libyan News Agency, the Attorney General’s Office announced on its official Facebook page that the Criminal Court sentenced the former manager of the Agricultural Bank’s Qasr Bin Ghashir branch to four years in prison and imposed a fine of 20,000 dinars. In addition, the branch’s credit officer received a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 700,000 dinars. Both individuals have been deprived of their civil rights for the duration of their sentences and for an additional year following the completion of their sentences.

The court also acquitted the two officials and a member of the branch’s legal office of responsibility for causing serious damage to public funds and the development plan. They were also acquitted of charges related to violating the law to gain illicit benefits for others. Furthermore, the legal office member was acquitted of all charges against him.

The Office has confirmed that the Public Prosecution plans to appeal this ruling by way of cassation. The appeal challenges the assessment of the fines imposed on the first and second defendants and the acquittal of the legal office member.