Shorting Kabbaj seems to imply that Goldman themselves thought there was something wrong with his work, perhaps even that it demonstrated "undue influence". IANAL, but one could certainly imagine an inference like that being drawn in court.
I was left wondering what happened to the Libyan officials in question? In those days it wasn't unusual for those who displeased Kaddafi to face a show trial and quick execution.
Later developments didn't bother with much show in trials.
It appears the mainly involved persons, Layas and Zarti, emigrated to live in Egypt and Vienna, respectively. I'd say that if Zarti applied for asylum in Austria, he'd be one of the applicants with best reasons to get one, by the terms of refugee treaties.
> the bank was willing to guarantee him $9 million in pay. It was an astonishing sum, even at Goldman.
> Kabbaj never got his $9 million.
via https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-goldman-sachs-libya/