The family of Max Göldi has appealed to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi for the Swiss businessman’s release from a Tripoli jail.

Göldi’s brother Moritz made the plea late on Tuesday on Swiss public television, in the name of his entire family.

The brother said they wanted the Gaddafis to “do everything in their power to hear their plea for mercy” for Max Göldi.

“We hope he’ll be released soon,” Moritz said. He described a visit Gaddafi’s son Hannibal made to Max in prison on Monday as a “positive sign that Libya is making an effort to continue negotiations”.

Göldi started a four-month sentence more than a week ago, after being found guilty of visa violations. He has been prevented from leaving Libya since July 2008, shortly after the brief detention in Geneva of Hannibal and his wife.

The Gaddafi couple were accused of mistreating two of their domestic staff. The charges were withdrawn after the servants accepted compensation.

The Libyans took a number of economic measures against Switzerland, but have always denied any connection between Hannibal’s detention and the arrest of Göldi and a second Swiss businessman who was allowed to return home last week.

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