Libya’s Education Minister Moussa al-Megarief has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison over a textbook shortage dating back to 2021, the attorney-general’s office announced Sunday.
A Tripoli appeals court also fined Megarief 1,000 dinars (about $200) and stripped him of his civil rights for the duration of his sentence and an additional year.
He was convicted of violating equality principles, favoring an unnamed party, and mismanaging textbook printing contracts.
The case originated at the start of the 2021 school year when public school students lacked free textbooks, forcing parents to rely on photocopies.
Authorities launched an investigation into Megarief’s handling of textbook procurement, placing him in preventive detention over alleged negligence.
Though initially released due to insufficient evidence, Megarief resumed his ministerial duties.
He defended his actions, attributing the shortage to efforts to unify Libya’s curriculum, which caused payment delays to suppliers.
Before the attorney-general’s statement, the education ministry’s Facebook page posted a picture of Megarief at work, signaling his continued presence in office.
