South Africa dismisses charges against 95 Libyans from Illegal military camp

• The National Prosecuting Authority stated there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the men.
• The men were charged with violating the country’s immigration laws.
• Their lawyers expect the men to be deported back to Libya within 48 hours.

South African prosecutors withdrew charges against 95 Libyan nationals on Thursday. The men had been arrested last month at an illegal military training camp in Mpumalanga province, according to officials. Police alleged that the men, who had entered the country on study visas, were undergoing military training at the camp, where firearms and ammunition were recovered during a widely publicized raid.

During their initial court appearances, the accused claimed they were receiving security training at the camp. The National Prosecuting Authority stated that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the men.

“The only charge that was brought to the NPA was that of the contravention of the immigration act against the 95 Libyan nationals,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.

They had been charged only with violating the country’s immigration laws. After the charges were withdrawn today, their lawyer told reporters that they expected the men to be deported back to Libya within the next 48 hours.

The men have been handed over to immigration officials and, through their lawyers, have insisted that they were in South Africa for security training.

“They are very happy that the charges have been withdrawn against them, it is what we expected. I think that matter (alleged military training) is still under investigation, as far as we know we had security training,” said the men’s lawyer, Nico du Plessis.

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