[The following are excerpts from a report under this headline in today's edition of The Daily Telegraph. It is of particular importance because of the reported comments of Abdelbaset Megrahi's solicitor, Tony Kelly, and because of the (belated) recognition by the Scottish Government Justice Department that compassionate release does not require an application to have been made by the prisoner concerned. The complete article can be read here.]
Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, has urged Gordon Brown to release the Lockerbie bomber from prison and allow him to return home.
Col Gadaffi made the plea at a meeting with the Prime Minister on the fringes of the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy.
Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi, the man convicted of the 1988 atrocity, is terminally ill with prostrate cancer.
Earlier this week it was revealed there is a "very real risk" he will die before his ongoing appeal against his conviction ends because of his deteriorating condition and further delays to the legal proceedings.
But Tony Kelly, Megrahi's solicitor, told The Daily Telegraph that the latest postpontment changes nothing, and did not mean his client would automatically drop his case. (...)
Col Gaddafi used his first meeting with Mr Brown to call for Megrahi to be returned home but aides said the Prime Minister told him that the case was "a matter for the Scottish government".
The Libyan government made an application under a prisoner transfer agreement two months ago to move Megrahi from Greenock Prison to the North African country.
This is currently being considered by Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice minister, who has held discussions with Libyan and US government officials, as well as victims' families.
However, Megrahi, 57, would have to drop all legal proceedings for a decision to be made, thereby losing his last chance to clear his name.
A further delay has been announced as one of judges hearing the case at the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh is recovering from heart surgery.
The case is not expected to resume until September, by which time Megrahi may have passed away.
However, Tony Kelly, Megrahi's solicitor, told The Daily Telegraph that the delay "does not change anything really".
He added that Mr MacAskill could unilaterally release his client on compassionate grounds, without an application being made by Megrahi or a third party.
A Scottish Executive spokesman said this was technically possible, but it was normal procedure for an application to be made.
'Mission of Lockerbie' >>> world-wide media campaign is in preparation and started soon...
ReplyDeleteThe libyan official Mr. Abdelbaset al Megrahi is innocent!
Its future lies in the 'Mission of Lockerbie'.
Accusation:
Now it is obvious, the 'Lockerbie-Tragedy' was used for one Conspiracy against Libya, with criminal participation of Scottish Officials! For that the Scottish media were made mouth dead!
Some of the Scottish Officials and known persons of the Scottish Police are the true criminals in the "Lockerbie Conspiracy Affair" !
(not participated at the PanAm 103 assassination attempt)
The Scottish Justiciary has a serious problem with the "Lockerbie-Affair" and makes itself guilty the obstruction of criminal facts...
Each accused like Mr. Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, has requirement on a human being-legally fair procedure.
The manipulated evidence shows clear, Mr. Megrahi and Libya hade nothing to do with the Lockerbie Tragedy!
Mr. Al-Megrahi has consistently maintained his innocence and has vowed to stay in Scotland and win his freedom through the appeal courts. This is the real way (if Mr. Al Megrahi is cleared) to go back in his homeland Libya.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has alleged offered to meet the Lockerbie bomber in prison.
We believe it is senselessly, by the way respect first his name and replace the "bomber" with Mr. Abdelbaset Al Megrahi...
Photos, documents and falsification evidence material, can be seen on our webpage: http://www.lockerbie.ch
by Edwin and Mahnaz Bollier, MEBO Ltd., Switzerland