Tripoli: Two Swiss businessmen sentenced to
16 months in jail and a fine for violating residency and labor
laws will now face trial for illegal economic activities later
this month, a Libyan official said today.
The Foreign Ministry official said the two face
charges of conducting commercial activities in Libya without a
license.
The trial is scheduled for December 15, he said on
condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to
discuss the case with the media.
The businessmen -- identified as Max Goeldi and Rachid
Hamdani -- were detained in July 2008 on alleged visa
violations -- days after Swiss police arrested Hannibal
Gadhafi, the son of Libya's leader, and his wife for allegedly
beating up their servants in a Geneva hotel.
The businessmen's sentence from their first
conviction, which included a USD 1,500 fine, comes amid furor
in the Muslim world over a referendum to outlaw the
construction of minarets in mosques in Switzerland.
Yesterday's speedy trial was held with no foreign
diplomats or reporters in the court. The two men were also not
present in court, according to their lawyer.
The Libyan official said the two men have a week to
appeal their first sentence.
But the trials are set to strain relations between the
two countries further.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 02, 2009, 20:07