Tripoli security forces apprehended last Wednesday the Director of the Libyan News Agency (LANA) over charges of stealing confidential intelligence files from the agency’s archive and trying to sell lands (about 36 hectares) owned by LANA.

Sources from the First Unit for Central Security, which arrested LANA’s Director, Ahmed Al-Shintiri, stated that they found 300 thousand Libyan dinars with him. The sources explained that the money was the salaries of LANA’s employees before Al-Shintiri transferred it to his own bank account and cashed it out for himself.

“We also found some evidence paper that show he has transferred foreign currency worth 900 thousand dinars to Tunisia and other countries.” The sources added.

After busting Al-Shintiri, it was evident that he was accused with many fraud cases, one of which was against employees who used to work with him in newspapers, where he used to be an editor-in-chief.

Al-Shintiri used to apply for nominations to many posts in Libya such as Minister of Culture and Deputy Minister of Culture in more than one former government, in addition to attempts to win prestigious positions in well-known oil companies.