ZINTAN, Libya — Saif al Islam Khadafy, the son of slain Libyan leader Moamar Khadafy, told International Criminal Court (ICC) officials that he hoped to be tried in Libya, but they doubted his statement, according to a report published Wednesday.
Saif, 39, who is wanted by The Hague-based ICC for crimes against humanity in trying to put down the bloody revolt against his father last year, made the statement during a meeting with the officials in Libya last month.
“I hope I can be tried here in my country, whether they will execute me or not,” he told two ICC officials, according to the report for judges from the court’s registry dated March 5 and made public Wednesday.
But the report — which also backed up claims that Saif was mistreated — said it appeared he “was playing the part for the benefit of the [Libyan] prosecutor,” whose representative was present during the hourlong meeting.
The tense March 3 meeting happened in Zintan, a town about 110 miles southwest of Tripoli, where Moammar Khadafy’s oldest son has been held in custody since his capture by then-rebel forces fighting to overthrow his father.
“It is important to note that for the registry representative, it was clear that [Saif] was not able to reply to the questions in the presence of the Libyan prosecution representative,” the report said.
The only chance the registry official had to speak with Saif directly was when the Libyan prosecution official went outside for about five minutes and Saif was asked whether he had been mistreated.
“His attitude changed from relaxed to intense, and without saying a word, he waved the hand where two fingers were missing and pointed to a missing tooth in the upper front” of his mouth, the report said.
The ICC issued a warrant for Saif’s arrest and transfer to The Hague for trial, but so far, Tripoli’s new authorities have resisted, insisting he would get a fair hearing if put in a Libyan dock.
ICC defense official Xavier-Jean Keita alleged that Saif had been assaulted since his arrest Nov. 19 last year in southwestern Libya.
Libyan authorities said Saif would be kept at a prison at Tajoura, about 13 miles outside Tripoli after his transfer to the capital but added that construction would only be finished in the next two months, the report added.