Sunday 9 October 2016

Sensitive information from a foreign government

[What follows is excerpted from a report published on this date in 2000 on the BBC News website:]

The Lockerbie trial is to be delayed again after "sensitive" information was given to the prosecution by a government.

In an unexpected development, Scotland's Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC told the judges on Monday it was impossible to proceed without further enquiries.

He gave few details to the court but confirmed that the information was related to the defence case and did not come from the United States.

Although some witnesses will be heard on Tuesday, the judges, with defence agreement, agreed then to adjourn the trial until Tuesday, 17 October.

On Monday the court at Camp Zeist in Holland was due to hear more evidence relating to the special defences of incrimination put forward by the two accused men.

They have denied all charges against them, blaming others for the atrocity including Mohamed Abo Talb, a former commander in the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front.

Talb, who was jailed for life in 1989 for bombing an airline's office in Copenhagen, was expected to give evidence as a prosecution witness on Monday.

The prosecution declined to comment further on the delay and a Crown Office spokesman said: "We can give no further information other than that given to the court by the lord advocate."

Mr Boyd told the court he had received the new information on Thursday and enquiries were carried out on Friday.

He said: "The matters raised by this information are of some complexity and considerable sensitivity. They relate not to the Crown case but to the defence case.

"Enquiries are continuing but it is likely, though not certain, that I will conclude that the information ought to be disclosed to the defence.

"However there are a number of difficult issues which require to be resolved before any disclosure is possible.

"The sensitivity of the enquiries is such that I am unable to give any further explanation at this stage."

Mr Boyd said it would be "inappropriate" to lead further Crown evidence relating to the special defences as the new information could have a bearing on the cross examination of witnesses.

William Taylor QC, defence counsel for Al Megrahi, told the judges he was "as much in the dark" as them about the reasons for the adjournment and therefore in no position to object to it.

However he added: "I am conscious that my client has now been in custody for some considerable time and any delay further extends that period."

Richard Keen QC, defending Fhimah, said: "It's obviously unfortunate the accused should have been in custody for one and a half years while 57 days of a trial has taken place.

"But the lord advocate was good enough to speak to myself and Mr Taylor before and I fully accept he has obligations incumbent on him in the public interest."

Presiding judge Lord Sutherland said that while a disruption to the proceedings was "unfortunate" the judges accepted the adjournment motion.

He said: "We will adjourn until next Tuesday for enquiries to be made. All we can do is express the hope that there will be sufficient time to resolve the difficulties."

[RB: I suspect that the document referred to above was not in fact provided to the defence at the Zeist trial and is the same document that was only disclosed six years later to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, and in respect of which the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, signed a Public Interest Immunity certificate to prevent its being revealed to Megrahi’s legal team for the subsequent appeal. The contents of the document were made public in a report in The Herald in June 2012. Kenny MacAskill made reference to it in his recent Lockerbie book: see Lockerbie: The bid to suppress evidence on this blog on 27 May 2016.]

2 comments:

  1. DOSSIER LOCKERBIE 2016 >> so is working 'Operation Sandwood' - obviously the key to truth evidence does not want to be involved in the Scottish investigation?

    The correspondence is now public - and the criminal facts about the Scottish "Lockerbie evidence fraud" - with an MST13 timerfragment (PT35) will be released in a new film & sound documentary, soon on the MEBO Ltd webpage: www.lockerbie.ch.
    The official, Abdelbaset Al Megrahi and Libya, have nothing to do with the "Bombing" on PanAm 103, over Lockerbie! The truth will speak ...
    +++

    Attn. Detective Superintendent Stuart Johnstone

    Dear Mr. Johnstone

    On Friday 15 September 2016 I sent to you an e-mail. Until today, I have not received a reaction from you concerning my intention to bring, the latest facts and a crucial new video, personally to you in Scotland.
    I hope to receive your reply in the forth coming days.
    I need to get a written confirmation, that you received my mails. Thanks.
    Looking forward to come a.s.a.p. to Scotland for a personal meeting.
    Best regards
    Edwin Bollier /MEBO Ltd
    Switzerland
    +++

    look back, retrospect: 12. Sep. an mich:

    Johnstone, Stuart
    GPMS Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

    Dear Mr Bollier,
    Thank you for making contact with Police Scotland and to advise of the most recent developments in relation to the MST-13 timers. Your e-mail has been forwarded to me in my capacity as senior investigating officer for Operation Sandwood.
    I would be interested in having sight of this most recent material you refer to in your e-mail to ensure this is fully assessed in relation to all matters under consideration.
    If the material is available in electronic format, I would be obliged if you could e-mail a copy to OperationSandwood@scotland.pnn.police.uk or alternatively, if in hard copy please mail to: -
    Detective Superintendent Stuart Johnstone
    Police Scotland
    c/o ‘P’ Division Headquarters,
    Detroit Road,
    GLENROTHES
    KY6 2RJ
    Scotland
    United Kingdom
    Thank you for your co-operation with this matter. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
    Kind regards
    +++

    Attn. Detective Superintendent Stuart Johnstone

    Dear Mr. Johnstone

    I was very glad and appreciated that you sent me a mail with your direct mail address and coordinates.
    Since the Lockerbie tragedy the Mebo Company faced severe problems and business became weaker and weaker. Since 26 years - I work full time in order to find new facts. The jumble around the MST-13 fragment is tremendous and confusing. Not many people know all aspects of the case better. Legally and technically.
    The last verdict by the Swiss Federal on 7th June 2016 was very disappointing and based on some false information’s given by the second extraordinary Federal prosecutor to the court. It lead to the refusal of opening a criminal investigation in Switzerland against a Swiss federal policeman and member of the swiss secret service.(NDB) The court did also not agree to open an investigation against unknown persons which have been involved. Among other reasons the court decided on Statutory Limitation.
    > contininued below >>>



    ReplyDelete
  2. > Coninued:

    Before this verdict - the Federal court of Switzerland decided 4 times in favour of me and dismissed the first extraordinary federal prosecutor. This never happened before in the history of the Swiss Federal Court. After a long legal battle, the Swiss Federal Court also decided that I have the right to review the archive of the Swiss Attorney General Office (Bundesanwaltschaft) in Bern.

    That’s what I did and reviewed and copied hundreds of papers with my name and also by permission, Erwin Meister and Mr.Lumpert’s name on it. I got access to several crucial documents, not accessible to public and media. I intended to find among the documents a crucial and unique high definition photo of the fragment. This photo is still missing and legal steps will enforce that I can review the Polaroid photo carrying my signature on the verso. I will explain to you in detail why this photo is so important.

    I do not want to send material – even on secure channels – to your office. I want to bring the latest facts and a crucial new video, personally to you to Scotland. You will not regret talking to me for an hour. The travel cost can be covered by me.
    At the court my person was described as unreliable. The staff of the SCCRC never talked to me, but described me also as unreliable person in the 800 page report… It all was based on stories about the time as owner of Radio Northsea International, my personal contacts to Muhamar Gaddafi, meetings with his son Saif in Switzerland and Libyan ministers.. For Swiss citizen it was at the time perfectly legal to do business with the DDR. Mebo never delivered – as alleged – embargo material. It was always authorized and documented by swiss authorities.
    After talking to me, you might realize that my image is different from what you hear or read so far.

    The truth must prevail.
    I would like to inform you that I legally and financially support the Megrahi family. I am in close and regular contact with all members of the family and preparing documents to apply for a new appeal in Scotland. There will be no missing documents…
    Looking forward to be invited to come for a personal meeting to Scotland.
    Best regards

    Edwin Bollier/MEBO LTD.
    +++

    Information for "OPERATION SANDWOOD;
    Attn. Detective Superintendent Stuart Johnstone

    Dear Mr. Johnstone

    On Friday 15 September 2016 I sent to you an e-mail. Until today, I have not received a reaction from you concerning my intention to bring, the latest facts and a crucial new video, personally to you in Scotland.

    I hope to receive your reply in the forth coming days.
    I need to get a written confirmation, that you received my mails. Thanks.

    Looking forward to come a.s.a.p. to Scotland for a personal meeting.

    Best regards

    Edwin Bollier /MEBO Ltd
    Switzerland,

    still no answer!!! Webpage: www.lockerbie.ch

    ReplyDelete