afrol News, 9 April - The Libyan government has filed a civil lawsuit against the Geneva authorities in a Geneva court on Wednesday claiming damages for the mishandle of Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife in July 2008. The Gaddafis are demanding 50,000 Swiss francs ($44,000) in compensation.

Geneva police arrested Mr Gadaffi and his wife from their hotel in Geneva in July last year, after receiving complaints that they had seriously mistreated and assaulted their two servants.

Last month the Libyan authorities threatened to lodge a formal complaint against the Swiss government, demanding compensation over the arrest of Libya leader’s son. However the Swiss authorities outrightly rejected the notion of compensation to Libya saying the government was wrong to demand compensation.

The couple were released on bail after two days, and charges against them were dropped in September after the servants withdrew their complaint, having reached a financial arrangement with Mr Gaddafi.

The arrest of Mr Gaddafi resulted into a political row with the Swiss government with Tripoli closing some of the Swiss companies and throwing diplomats out of the country.

Switzerland's foreign ministry argued that the authorities acted within international law in the arrest, but admitted that local police could have acted in a more sensitive manner especially to a highly pregnant wife.

Swiss Foreign Ministry had last year blamed Libyan leader for launching a single-minded campaign against Swiss interests in general in retaliation to the arrest of his son and his heavily pregnant wife.

Mr Gaddafi’s wife, Aline, who was pregnant at the time, was hospitalised during police questioning.

Libya's deputy foreign minister for European affairs had also said Tripoli wants not only an apology from Swiss authorities but also the punishment of those who arrested Mr Gaddafi.

In 2005, Hannibal was detained in Paris for allegedly assaulting his companion in a hotel. On several occasions, the police had also stopped him for over speeding at Avenue des Champs-Élysées, known in France as the most beautiful avenue in the world.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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