The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni (along with Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Deputy Minister Alfredo Mantovano) has received a notification from the Rome prosecutor's office regarding an investigation into allegations of complicity and misappropriation related to the repatriation of the head of the judicial police in Tripoli, Libyan Najim Usama Al-Masri.
Al-Masri's crimes have long been under investigation by the International Criminal Court, which subsequently issued an arrest warrant for him.
The man, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was arrested on January 20 at his hotel in Turin, where he had come to watch the Juventus vs. Milan match.
The next day, the ICC requested his extradition, but the Italian government returned Al-Masri to his homeland.
This decision initially sparked discontent among the opposition, and then lawyer Luigi Li Gotti initiated a legal process by filing a complaint asking judges to investigate the decision to use a government plane for Al-Masri's repatriation.
How the Al-Masri Case Unfolded
The head of the judicial police in Tripoli had been in Europe since January 6. Before landing in Rome, he made a stop in London. He then moved freely between France, Germany, and Belgium.
On January 16, Al-Masri was stopped in Munich for a routine check, and the next day Interpol issued a warning to six countries whose borders he was believed to have crossed.
A hotel room in Turin was booked for Al-Masri, and a car was rented in Germany, which was to be returned at Fiumicino Airport.
On January 18, the Libyan was stopped in Piedmont but was later released (there was no active alert on this).
At the same time, the ICC urgently issued an arrest warrant for him (the request had been under consideration since October 2, 2024).
In the early hours of January 19, Najim Usama Al-Masri was arrested and spent two nights in the Vallette prison in Turin.
The Matter of Minister Nordio's Authorization
Subsequently, the Al-Masri case was transferred to Rome, where on January 20, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Appeals approached Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, requesting approval for this measure.
The arrest was made for the purpose of extradition, while in the case of an international arrest warrant, ministerial approval would have been required, but he was not notified. Thus, the court did not confirm the legality of the arrest.
On January 21, Najim Usama Al-Masri was released and deported as a "dangerous subject" by the order of Minister Piantedosi. He flew out of Rome and landed in Libya on a military aircraft, rather than on a commercial flight usually used for repatriating illegal migrants.
Meloni Responds with a Video
Upon receiving the notification, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a video on social media commenting on the incident.
"Rome Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, the same one who conducted the unsuccessful trial against Matteo Salvini for the kidnapping case, has just sent me a notification regarding allegations of complicity and misappropriation.
The facts are known. After several months of consideration, the International Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for the head of the judicial police in Tripoli, Al-Masri. Interestingly, the court did this just as this individual was about to enter Italy, after spending twelve days peacefully in three other European countries."
On Wednesday, Meloni published a new message on the X platform.
"Our commitment to protecting Italy will continue, as always, resolutely and without hesitation," the Prime Minister wrote. "When the security of the nation and the interests of Italians are at stake, there is no room for retreat."
Tensions Between the Government and the Judiciary
The notification sent to Prime Minister Meloni is just the latest episode in the growing tension between the executive and judicial branches at a time when she is preparing to reform the Italian justice system and introduce a separation of powers.
On Wednesday, the Court of Cassation is expected to decide whether the documents in the Visibilia case, which involves Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè, should remain in Milan or be transferred to the prosecutor's office in Rome.
Among other charges, Santanchè is accused of fraud under aggravating circumstances in connection with the Inps fund during the Covid-19 period.
The investigation involves 13 employees from two companies who allegedly were laid off during zero hours without their knowledge. By continuing to work, they are believed by the prosecutor to have caused Inps to incur damages exceeding 126,000 euros.
A decision from the judges of the Rome Court of Appeals is expected on Thursday regarding whether to confirm the detention of 49 migrants who arrived on Tuesday morning in Shengjin (Albania) aboard the patrol vessel Cassiopea.
In the previous two cases (in October and November), some migrants were found to be in vulnerable situations and were returned to Italy, which caused disputes with Meloni's government.
The executive believes that the warning in the Al-Masri case is yet another attack by the judges opposed to the reforms.