Africa News
Jailed Swiss businessman Goldi returns from Libya
Jun 14, 2010, 2:03 GMT
Tripoli/Geneva - Swiss businessman Max Goldi, who was jailed in Libya for nearly four months, arrived in Zurich early Monday.
Goldi, who was at the centre of a diplomatic row between Libya and Switzerland, was accompanied by Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, Swiss news agency SDA reported.
Goldi was detained in Tripoli following a dispute between Swiss and Libyan authorities. He was released Thursday night, a few days before his four-month prison term was to end.
Goldi and fellow businessman Rachid al-Hamdani were arrested in July 2008, days after police in Geneva questioned Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's son Hannibal and his wife, following a complaint that they had abused domestic staff at a Geneva hotel.
Although the case was later dropped, relations between Switzerland and Libya deteriorated.
Soon after, Libya prevented the two Swiss businessmen from leaving the country and they were sentenced to 16 months in prison on charges of illegal business activity and visa infractions.
Al-Hamdani was later cleared of the charges and allowed to return home, while Goldi's sentence was reduced.
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