Libyan court jails Briton

Press, 30 November 1982, Page 8

Libyan court jails Briton

NZPA London Britain was seeking "urgent clarification” from Libyan authorities on whether Robert Maxwell, a Briton just jailed for 12 years by a Libyan court, had the right to appeal, a Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday. Radio Tripoli said earlier that Mr Maxwell. an engin-. eer employed by a local municipality, had been found guilty of supplying' false information harmful to Libya's economy. He had also been convicted of treason, selling industrial. secrets to foreign companies, embezzlement, and fraud, British officials would request early consular access to Mr Maxwell, as well as clarification of the charges and confirmation of the sentence, the spokesman said. The only British journalist to attend the trial, Mike Wooldridge, said that the proceedings had lasted less than two hours, were conducted in Arabic and were recorded for Libyan television. Mr Maxwell had watched from a dock surrounded by a metal grille. British Embassy officials who had been asked to attend were ordered to leave because 'they did not have written invitations.

Wooldridge also was asked to leave the court, and afterwards a court official would only confirm the sentence.