The head of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, said during his hosting of Flusna program, which is broadcast on WTV and Tabadul TV, the Economic platform, with the presentation of the journalist, Ahmed Al-Sanussi, that his son was kidnapped and tortured for two days last August, and a security agency in Tripoli intervened to save him. A part of the accused were arrested, and still others are ahead of the chase.
Shakshak apologized for what he described as a “slip-up”, after his son’s name was included in the list of scholarships to study abroad, and he considered the matter as a mistake that is being fixed.
Shakshak confirmed saying that there is a case submitted to the Attorney General in Tripoli, adding how shocking and painful this incident was to his family. He also said that “I have the right to search for safety for my family and to provide education and study for my children, especially since my field of work cannot leave them due to fear for their safety. All expectations are possible, and at the same time, I cannot afford the expenses of education, as they are high and beyond my capabilities.”
Shakshak clarified that if his perspective were materialistic, he would not have settled for a mere $1,500, which is the scholarship grant for his son. He emphasized that given his position and job, he could have placed him in the largest investment companies or embassies with a higher salary, which could reach $20,000 for an employee working abroad.
Furthermore, Shakshak emphasized that due to his position, he respects himself and cannot stoop to such a level. He added, “I come from a family that was raised with ethics, and if this decision was a mistake, I take responsibility for it.”
The Head of the Audit Bureau also clarified that he proposed an alternative mechanism to address the financial difficulties faced by Libyan students studying abroad on scholarships. He suggested allocating $800 for housing and living expenses for these students. He pointed out that the Minister of Higher Education, Imran Al-Qaib, has already issued a decision in this regard, but it has not been implemented. He confirmed that considering this step could be positive in an attempt to assist Libyan students studying abroad who face financial difficulties and treat them differently from foreign scholarship students.
Khaled Shakshak added that it is important to effectively implement this decision to help these students overcome financial challenges and achieve their educational goals. Many of them are studying at prestigious institutions such as Al-Azhar University, Saudi Arabia (in Medina), Turkey, and other places.
Regarding the appointment of his family members in government positions, Khaled Shakshak stated that he has five family members who deserve appointments in the state but none of them have been appointed. At a time when he could have appointed them to a high-level Libyan institution abroad and they would have received high salaries of up to $20,000 due to his position as the head of the Audit Bureau. However, he justified this by stating that appointments in government positions should be based on competence and qualifications, not on family connections. He emphasized the importance of not exploiting authority for personal gain.
Furthermore, Shakshak confirmed that he demanded the cancellation of the decision made by the Minister of Health, Ramadan Abu Janah, to appoint his brother as a health attaché in London, despite being eligible for the position. He stated, “I believed that he can’t be there since I hold the position of the Head of the Libyan Audit Bureau.”