Osama Njaim, the former head of the Judicial Police, which used to be part of the Special Deterrence Force (SDF), was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison by the Tripoli Criminal Court in June for ‘violating the rights of prisoners’.

Njaim’s case has been highly controversial. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and was arrested by Italian police during a visit to Turin in January 2025. However, rather than handing him over to the ICC, Italy released him, citing what Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio described as ‘errors and inaccuracies’ in the ICC arrest warrant. Njaim then returned to Libya to a hero’s welcome from his supporters. 

Njaim was subsequently arrested by the authorities in Tripoli in November 2025 on local charges related to the abuse of prisoners under his supervision at the Mitiga detention facility. The latest court ruling is therefore partly seen as Tripoli’s way of avoiding handing him over to the ICC, a move that would trigger a fierce backlash among his supporters, many of whom are part of the SDF.

However, some local sources claim Njaim is still free. Although General Prosecutor Al-Siddiq al-Sour has said he is in prison serving his sentence, some Tripoli residents have reported seeing him on the capital’s streets, while one local television channel claimed he was never officially arrested or investigated. This is unconfirmed, but to some Libyan commentators the ruling looks like a device aimed primarily at shielding Njaim from the risk of being handed over to the ICC.

The June 2026 issue of Libya Focus also includes the following:

Implications

Politics

• The east throws its support behind the Boulos plan…
• The three heads announce a new roadmap…
• Misrata declares a new region…
• Njaim is convicted but reportedly still free

Security

• Violence continues to blight Zawiya
• Growing anti-migrant sentiment spills over into angry protests

Energy & Economy

• NOC announces production increase
• Fuel crisis grips the country