Registry officials held in citizenship probe

Two former senior officials at Libya’s Civil Registry Authority (CRA) have been remanded in custody over an alleged large-scale citizenship fraud scheme, in what investigators are calling one of the country’s most significant identity fraud cases in recent years.

The Attorney General’s Office disclosed yesterday that the former Director of Documentation and a senior figure from the Inspection and Review Office have been taken into custody. Both suspects held their positions at the CRA prior to 2020.

Prosecutors allege the scheme involved the fabrication of 200 family records that wrongfully bestowed Libyan citizenship rights upon foreign nationals. The investigation has uncovered a sophisticated system of falsified residency documents and unauthorised national identification numbers that allegedly enabled non-citizens to claim benefits reserved for Libyan nationals.

“This constitutes a grave breach of our national security and identity,” said a senior official at the Attorney General’s Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity owing to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation.

In a particularly concerning development, investigators discovered that the accused officials allegedly compelled five female employees to process the fraudulent documentation, raising serious questions about workplace coercion within the government agency.

The scandal has triggered a comprehensive review of citizenship claims, with authorities suggesting this may be merely the beginning of a larger investigation. Legal experts indicate that individuals who obtained citizenship fraudulently could face criminal prosecution and expulsion from the country.

This case emerges amid mounting concerns regarding identity fraud in Libya, where citizenship status is intrinsically linked to access to social services, employment opportunities, and property rights.

The Attorney General’s Office has indicated that further arrests may follow as investigators continue to uncover the full scope of the alleged scheme.