Discussion on Kharafi Abandon and Seizure of Libyan Plane

According to AFP, the attempts to seizing a Libyan aircraft have been abandoned by the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi Construction Group. The group had been trying to take the ownership of costly and luxurious plane which was used previously by Qaddafi. In 2012, the plane required maintenance and had been taken to Perpignan.

The decision by the Perpignan court followed the decision of Kharafi group to abandon the case. The French lawyer of Al-Kharafi explains that they have preferred to focus on seizing other assets of Libya which will prove to be more feasible. It is important to be recalled that last year, in December, the freeze put on the former plane of Qaddafi had been lifted by the French court after it was attempted by the construction group to recover an amount of billion dollars.

Attempts were being made by the Al-Kharafi Group for seizing the A340 Airbus of Qaddafi which he had bought from Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia for approximately €120 million. During the revolution, it was damaged and was sent to France for maintenance. Ever since then, it has been awaiting bill payments which are estimated to be in millions. In this case, sovereign immunity has been claimed by French lawyers.

Meanwhile, in March 2013, Libya had been ordered by an arbitration panel to pay approximately a billion dollars to the company of Kuwait for the loss of potential income from a failed project of Tripoli tourism.

In 2008, when Sovereign Hospitality Holdings was established by Kharafi, the project was gradually transferred to it and until the uprising, the Kuwaitis exclaimed that they had significantly invested in feasibility studies, management, and design contracts. Approximately 5 million dollars have been estimated for it but the important part of their claim was associated with the loss for estimated profit.