‘Gold thief’ stuck in SA

JOHANNESBURG – The extradition hearing of a Libyan man wanted by Tripoli as an alleged al Qaeda financier was postponed yesterday, because the court was waiting for the South African government to act on the request.

The Pretoria magistrate’s court postponed the extradition hearing of Ibrahim Ali Abubaker Tantoush, a 38-year-old Libyan engineer, because presidential permission had not been received, the South African Press Association reported. The case was postponed until July 20.Tantoush was arrested in Pretoria in February for allegedly being in possession of a fake South African passport.He was released on bail in April.While in custody, Libyan authorities requested his extradition.A letter to the South African government from the Libyan attorney-general claims Tantoush is one of a group who robbed a company in Garia, Libya, in May 1985 of a substantial quantity of gold.- Nampa-APThe case was postponed until July 20.Tantoush was arrested in Pretoria in February for allegedly being in possession of a fake South African passport.He was released on bail in April.While in custody, Libyan authorities requested his extradition.A letter to the South African government from the Libyan attorney-general claims Tantoush is one of a group who robbed a company in Garia, Libya, in May 1985 of a substantial quantity of gold.- Nampa-AP