Libya’s Education Minister, Moussa al-Megarief, has been handed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence due to a textbook shortage dating back to 2021, according to the attorney general’s office on Sunday.
The Tripoli court of appeal also imposed a fine of 1,000 dinars (approximately ₦320,000) and stripped him of his civil rights for the duration of his sentence and an additional year thereafter.
Megarief, a member of the national unity government, faced accusations of favouritism in managing contracts for printing school textbooks, allegedly violating the principle of equality and using his influence to benefit an unnamed party.
The case dates back to the start of the 2021 school year, when public schools across Libya experienced a significant textbook shortage. This shortage forced parents to spend money on photocopies of textbooks that were supposed to be provided for free.
An investigation into the contractual procedures for printing textbooks and the reasons behind this shortage was launched.
Initially, Megarief was detained as part of the probe into alleged negligence in his duties. However, he was later released due to a lack of evidence and resumed his role as education minister.
He attributed the textbook shortage to efforts to unify the school curriculum across Libya’s three regions, which he said delayed supplier payments.
Despite the legal proceedings, the education ministry’s Facebook page had posted a photo of Megarief at work before the court’s verdict was announced.
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