Tripoli – The Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of the Resources Management official at the Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO) in Misrata, on the grounds of supplying steel worth $26 million from China that did not conform to specifications.

A statement indicated that the prosecutor at the Anti-Corruption Prosecution within the Misrata Court of Appeal conducted an investigation into the regularity of the company’s contracting procedures with an Austrian company for the supply of 50,000 metric tons of primary steel billets (SP 3). The investigations revealed a violation in authorizing the disbursement of $26 million and approving the receipt of the material supplied from the People’s Republic of China, despite 70 percent of it lacking the quality requirements and specifications necessary for rolling the billets.

The statement confirmed that this unusual behavior resulted in the seller benefiting from this price contrary to the legislation regulating the management of public funds and prevented the company from introducing the supplied material into its strategic industrial program.

Based on these investigations, the Public Prosecution decided to detain the company’s Resources official in custody pending investigation and proceeded to determine the responsibility of the other officials managing the contract under preliminary investigation.

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Tripoli

Tripoli is the capital and largest city of Libya, a major port on the Mediterranean coast with a history dating back to the 7th century BC when it was founded by the Phoenicians. Historically known as Oea, it has been ruled by the Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, Italians, and was a focal point during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. Today, its old city, the medina, retains historic architecture like the Arch of Marcus Aurelius and the Red Castle (Assai al-Hamra), which now houses a national museum.

Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO)

The Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO), established in 1979 in Misrata, was a major industrial project aimed at diversifying Libya’s oil-dependent economy. It became one of North Africa’s largest steel plants, but its operations have been severely disrupted by conflict and instability following the 2011 uprising and subsequent civil wars.

Misrata

Misrata is a major port city on the Mediterranean coast of northwestern Libya, historically known as a key trading and commercial center. It played a pivotal and prolonged role during the 2011 Libyan Civil War as a stronghold of anti-Gaddafi forces, enduring a significant siege. Today, it remains one of Libya’s most important economic hubs, known for its industry and commerce.

Misrata Court of Appeal

The Misrata Court of Appeal is a major judicial institution in Libya, located in the city of Misrata. It was historically established as part of the country’s national judicial system and gained particular prominence during and after the 2011 Libyan Civil War, when Misrata became a key center of political and legal authority. The court handles appellate cases from lower courts in its region, playing a significant role in the administration of justice in western Libya.

Anti-Corruption Prosecution

The Anti-Corruption Prosecution is a specialized law enforcement body, typically established by a national government, to investigate and prosecute crimes of corruption, bribery, and embezzlement by public officials. Its history is often tied to a country’s specific legal reforms or public demand for greater accountability, such as in Romania where the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) was created in 2002 as a condition for European Union accession. These institutions aim to strengthen the rule of law and public trust by independently targeting high-level graft.

People’s Republic of China

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a sovereign state in East Asia, founded on October 1, 1949, following the victory of the Communist Party of China in the Chinese Civil War. It is a civilization with a continuous history spanning thousands of years, and its modern form is a unified multi-ethnic country governed as a socialist state under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.