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Attorney General’s Office investigating the repatriation of 9 untested Libyans

Libya’s Attorney General’s Office is investigating the Libyan Consulate in Istanbul for allowing 9 members of the same family to board a repatriation flight to Libya, without having undergone the prescribed testing and quarantine procedure.

The members were stopped at Misrata airport and reported to the Anti-Coronavirus Committee which in turn set off a flurry of letters and investigations leading to the Attorney General’s Office to launch its investigation.

The High Committee for Coronavirus Response climed that nine Libyan nationals arrived from abroad without being tested for COVID-19, warning the Foreign Ministry that it would stop the evacuation flights if this hazardous behavior was repeated, citing the need to maintain the public safety amid the spread of the pandemic.

“This is a reckless act that jeopardizes people’s lives. The airliner and the Libyan consulate in Istanbul are responsible for any repercussions of such a behavior.” The committee said.

Meanwhile, the Libyan consul in Istanbul Fathi Al-Sharif said in a statement that he had allowed the nine persons to return to Libya via Misrata Airport as per the orders of the Head of the High Council of State Khalid Al-Mishri.

He added that the nine persons were a family of a martyr and Al-Mishri asked for allowing them to return on the first evacuation flight to attend the burial of the martyr.

“It was an exceptional act as per the orders of an official request by a government body that guaranteed they would be tackled with precautions amid fears of the Coronavirus spread.” Al-Sharif explained.

It will be recalled that the Libyan authorities had put in place precise procedures for the repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad which prescribe two PCR (polymerise chain reaction) tests for every citizen either side of a tight 14 day quarantine in a hotel nominated by the local Libyan embassy/consulate. Those who do not pass the PCR tests are not allowed home.


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