THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Libyan man accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes in a Tripoli prison appeared before judges at the International Criminal Court on Wednesday and sat expressionless as court officials read out charges including murder, rape and torture.
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, spoke only to confirm his age and identity before asking the judge to release him while the case progresses.
Presiding judge Iulia Motoc asked El Hishri’s lawyers to submit a written request for provisional release to the court.
Elsheishri was flown to the Netherlands from Germany on Monday and was arrested in July on a sealed ICC arrest warrant. Prosecutors said he was a senior commander at Mitiga prison and said he ordered or supervised criminal activity at the prison between 2015 and 2020.
He faces six crimes against humanity and six war crimes for allegedly abusing detainees in prison, including personally murdering one person and overseeing the murder, rape and torture of others, according to charges read out at a public hearing. He does not need to enter a plea to the charges.
A judge has scheduled a hearing on May 19 to assess whether the evidence against Shishri is sufficient to stand trial against him.
His case will be the first Libyan suspect to go to trial before the international tribunal, which prosecutors were tasked by the U.N. Security Council in 2011 with investigating the North African country as it descended into lawlessness following the uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
A court quickly issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi, but rebels killed him before he could be detained and transported to The Hague.
Courts have issued arrest warrants for nine more Libyan suspects, including one of Gaddafi’s sons.
Italy arrested one of the suspects, Ossama Anjiem, also known as Osama Masri, in January but later released him on technical issues, sparking outrage from human rights defenders. He was also charged with offenses in Mitiga Prison.
