The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported on Thursday that the former Libyan ambassador to Canada, Fathi Mohammed Al-Baja, was arrested after preserving documents related to billions of dollars that the late Muammar Gaddafi hid in Canadian bank accounts and a penthouse in Toronto owned by his son, Al-Saadi Gaddafi.
According to the Canadian newspaper, Al-Baja kept secret documents after leaving Ottawa because he was concerned about the possibility of money and property falling into the hands of corrupt officials.
The newspaper continued by saying that Al-Baja was arrested on Sunday afternoon by the Internal Security Service in the city of Benghazi after he refused to hand over secret records to Libyan officials, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked the newspaper not to reveal his identity because his safety was in danger.
In detail, the Committee of Experts on Libya confirmed, through previous reports from the Canadian newspaper The Global and Mail, about Al-Saadi Gaddafi’s secret plan to sell his apartment in Toronto, in violation of the asset freeze. The investigation also revealed the Turkish government’s involvement with him. These developments come at a critical time for Libya, which is preparing to conduct its first elections.