Gaddafi’s son off the hook for murder of Libyan footballer

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saadi Gaddafi has been cleared of murdering a footballer Bashir Rayani who was killed before Libya’s 2011 uprising.

An appeals court found him not guilty of “murder, deception, threats, enslavement and defamation of the former player Bashir Rayani,” a justice ministry statement cited by Reuters said.

Saadi Gaddafi fled to Niger during the 2011 revolt that toppled his father, but was extradited in 2014 to the capital Tripoli where he has since been held.

The statement added that he was fined 500 Libyan dinars ($377) and was handed a suspended one-year prison sentence for drinking and possession of alcohol in the 2006 case.

Despite the ruling, Saadi, who was a career footballer in Libya and Italy faces charges linked with the 2011 revolt.

His brother, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has decided to run in the upcoming presidential elections expected to be held at the end of the year.

Saif is believed to be in self-exile in Tunisia and plans to return and lead a party. The 45-year-old was accused of murdering protesters in Tripoli during the final moments of his father’s reign. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity.