(Adnkronos) – Italy’s national interest justified the release and repatriation of Libyan police officer Osama Elmasry Njeem – who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity – Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on Wednesday.
“Our commitment to defending Italy will continue, as always, with determination and without hesitation,” Meloni wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“When the security of the nation and the interests of Italians are at stake, there is no room for backtracking,” the tweet added.
Meloni said on Tuesday that she was under investigation by Rome’s chief prosecutor for abetting Njeem and misusing public funds by flying him back to Libya last week on a government plane. Justice minster Carlo Nordio, interior minister Matteo Piantedosi and cabinet undersecretary for intelligence, Alfredo Mantovani were also being probed over the case, Meloni said.
The ICC has demanded an explanation over Njeem’s repatriation, saying it was not consulted. A top official in Libya’s judicial police, Njeem faces ICC charges that include murder, torture rape and sexual violence.
Njeem was arrested in Turin on 19 January on an ICC warrant but Piantedosi told parliament last week that he had been swiftly repatriated on 21 January “for reasons of state security”.
Piantedosi and Nordio are on Wednesday due to give more information to parliament over the Njeem case.
