A legal battle has started in court over two Libyan executive jets which were seized in Malta two weeks ago.
 
The €35m Global 5000 Bombardier jets are being held at Malta International Airport. The issue is part of a struggle between the two governments in Libya over control of the country’s assets abroad.
 
The seizure followed an injunction filed by United Aviation Company (UAC), which was set up by the former Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi. A new company, Executive Authority for Air Cargo and Special Flights, was formed following the uprising in order to take over its assets.  
 
The internationally recognised Libyan government in Tobruk wants to take over the planes but UAC claims it still owns them. Lawyer Mario de Marco, assisting
UAC, argued yesterday that although the Tobruk government passed a resolution to liquidate the company and pass its assets on to the new company, the liquidation never materialised and UAC was still in operation according to law.
 
Pio Valletta, representing the new company, said UAC had ceased to exist in terms of  the government resolution and the injunction was not valid according
to law.
 
The court, said it would not decide on the ownership of the two planes but only
on whether the injunction was valid or not. 

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