Libyan leader Muammar Al Qadaffy's...whose instability has been an inspiration to dictators everywhere...
second son, Seif al-Islam is being accused by a former minister in the Al Qadaffy regime of mismanagement of Libyan funds and that in the last few years, billions of dollars accrued from oil production have been embezzled. Seif was the one in charge of transferring money and channelling funds abroad.
In an interview on Euronews Dr. Fathi Ben Shatwan, who for years formed part of the Al Qadaffy regime as secretary (minister) for industry, and then, for two years, until 2006 also served as Libya's energy minister, said that Libya has known corruption these past 10 years "when Seif Al Islam was in charge of all economic affairs."
Ben Shatwan was answering a question about money matters, something, the interviewer said, is of especial interest for the Libyans. He was asked: "We know that Libya is an oil exporting country, it's a rich country. We also know that you were the energy minister. Where is Al Qadaffy's money?"
In his reply, the former minister said: "The Libyan economy was in his (Seif's) hands. Those who worked on the Popular General Committee took their orders directly from him." adding: "through my responsibilities there, my experience is that it is Seif Al-Islam who was in charge of transferring money and channelling funds abroad. That's what I know."
Asked if he could give a figure of how much money was embezzled, Ben Shatwan said: "Frankly, people talk about it, they don't give precise figures, but looking at oil production these last few years we reckon the sum of money embezzled varies between 200 and 250 billion dollars."
He added that the money has been transferred, ostensibly, as investments or in other forms, out of Libya.
For years, Dr. Ben Shatwan was one of very close to Muammar Al Qadaffy and one of the regime's leading front man. He had not been involved in government since 2006 but lived quietly in his hometown of Misrata. He decamped the country in spectacular manner, on a small boat to Malta and from there to La Belle France.
Ben Shatwan explained that when the revolution began on he went to his home town, Misrata, with my family. He said that Misrata joined the revolt and freed itself.
"But," he went on to say, "after 45 days there I and several others thought it would be better if I returned to Malta and served the revolution from the exterior. So you see, I didn't flee, but some in the media claimed this and I didn't want to contradict them..."
He, as well as Mustafa Abdul Jalil the justice minister, and interior minister Abdul Fatah Younis became dissidents after the revolution. Why not before? He was asked. Why wait until the beast has rolled over before reaching for your knives?"
"In reality the Libyan regime was so tightly-controlled and security was so solid that no-one could do anything, even the opposition which tried for 30 or 40 years to change things in vain. So we were left with a choice, leave Libya and become refugees or try to work for our country within the regime," Ben Shatwan said.
At the beginning of the current revolution the people erupted into the streets calling freedom, and surprised the political class by taking the initiative from those who could have changed things.
Asked if he could explain why the opposition ran to NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
when the revolution was up and running and the people had decided to free themselves, he said: "In fact the revolution began peacefully, as you know. But the regime quickly embarked on an unprecedentedly violent route, which surprised the whole world.
"This is why NATO and three nations, Britannia, La Belle France and the United States intervened to save the Libyan people. Remember when the bombardment of Benghazi began. If that had continued 250,000 or 500,000 people would have died," Ben Shatwan said.
Turning to the Libyan leader, the former minister believed "the vice around him is tightening and he's now encircled in a 50 kilometre circle around Tripoli."
Ben Shatwan sees two options open or Al Qadaffy: "Either he continues to fight with resulting high casualties in people and property, or he agrees to leave Libya and Tripoli will be saved."
Speaking about his vision for the Libya of tomorrow, Ben Shatwan feels there's need for a road map. "The Council needs a plan for the different stages of the revolution, from the liberation stage on the ground to the transition and beyond to the period of construction," he said.
When it comes to NATO, he said that the military alliance entered Libya with a UN mandate and resolution backing it. He added that it has helped the Libyan people a lot, and without its help the number of deaders would have been very high.
He said: "I think in Libya's road map to the future we must turn towards the Arab and NATO nations which have helped the Libyan people and saved hundreds of thousands of Libyan lives."
The way he talked about the future of Libya could have given some the impression that Dr Shatwan was expecting to have some sort of job in the future government. Not so. "I have decided to retire from politics and write, learn, and help others."