afrol News, 2 December - A Libyan court has slapped two Swiss businessmen with 16 months jail terms for contravening the immigration laws.

The sentences laid down on Swiss nationals comes amid a row over the arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son in Geneva last year for allegedly mistreating and assaulting the two servants.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court also fined the pair 2,000 dinars ($1,600) each.

The men, Max Goeldi and Rachid Hamdani have reportedly been detained in the country since July 2008 when Geneva police arrested Mr Hannibal Gaddafi.

Mr Gaddafi and his wife were briefly detained and accused of abusing two servants at a hotel in Geneva in May 2008.

Their arrest sparked retaliatory measures from Libya, including cancelling oil supplies, withdrawing billions of dollars from Swiss banks, refusing visas to Swiss citizens and recalling some of its diplomats.

Libyan officials have also said the two men will also be tried for tax evasion and failure to comply with business laws later in the month.

However, the sentencing of the Swiss nationals have sparked outrage in Switzerland, and the government has been criticised for not properly handling of the affair, after Libya authorities reject Swiss President apology.

In April, the Libyan government filed a civil lawsuit against the Geneva authorities in a Geneva court to a tune of 50,000 Swiss francs ($44,000) in compensation for the mishandling of Mr Gaddafi and his wife in July 2008.

Libyan authorities 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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