ROME, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The Italian Justice Minister stated on Wednesday that Rome released a Libyan military officer accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court due to errors in the court's arrest warrant.
Osama Elmasry Njeem was set free and sent back to Tripoli, just two days after being apprehended in northern Italy based on the ICC warrant, which alleged he was involved in the mistreatment of detainees in Libya.
The officer's release caused backlash from Italian opposition parties and led to a legal inquiry involving ministers and a cabinet undersecretary.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio pointed out deficiencies in the warrant, stating that it contained inaccuracies, omissions, discrepancies, and contradictory conclusions.
Official responses from the court and its prosecutor are still pending.
Nordio highlighted uncertainties in the warrant regarding the timeline of Njeem's suspected crimes, noting discrepancies between February 2011 and February 2015.
He confirmed the court had acknowledged its errors and made corrections shortly after issuing the initial document.
Further, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi defended the decision to expel Njeem, citing concerns about his perceived danger.
Piantedosi refuted opposition claims that Njeem collaborated with Italy on migration issues or that external pressure influenced his release.
The ICC, investigating crimes in Libya post the 2011 civil war, demanded an explanation for Njeem's release, criticizing Rome for not consulting them.
In response to the ministers’ explanations, opposition leaders called for a personal appearance by Meloni to clarify the government's stance.
Elly Schlein, of the Democratic Party, criticized the decision, stating: The international credibility of Italy has been tarnished by your decision to release a Libyan torturer.
Rome's chief prosecutor, Francesco Le Voi, initiated an investigation into Meloni, Nordio, Piantedosi, and Mantovano for alleged assistance in a crime and misuse of public funds. All parties dismissed the accusations, denouncing the politicization of the case.