Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the Libyan state seeking to annul a 2017 arbitral award in favor of Tunisian businessman Sami Jallouli, which orders Libya to pay approximately 20 million Swiss francs.
The court ruled that Libya's appeal was procedurally inadmissible due to being submitted outside the legally prescribed time limits. The Libyan authorities had been aware of the award since May 2017 but failed to notify the arbitral tribunal of any objections regarding the notification method or procedures applied at the time.
As a result, the Swiss court has authorized the seizure of a Libyan guesthouse in Geneva to enforce the payment of the award. This decision underscores the importance of adhering to procedural deadlines in international arbitration and highlights the potential consequences of non-compliance.
