THE LIBYAN jailed for the Lockerbie bombing could be released soon on compassionate grounds after Scottish ministers were told his prostate cancer is at a terminal stage. Scotland’s justice minister, Kenny MacAskill, has been given “compelling” medical reports that show Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi’s prostate cancer is in its final stages.
Mr MacAskill took the unprecedented step of visiting Megrahi – who was jailed in 2001 for a minimum of 25 years for bombing Pam Am flight 103 in December 1988 – at Greenock prison yesterday after the Libyan government made two formal requests for his early release.
Megrahi is appealing against his conviction, but Libya has asked separately for his release on compassionate grounds under a prisoner transfer treaty signed by Muammar Gadafy, the Libyan leader, and the British government.
It is thought that Megrahi pleaded to be allowed to die at home in Libya when he met Mr MacAskill. The minister would not comment after leaving the prison and Megrahi’s lawyer, Tony Kelly, who was at the meeting, refused to discuss the case. Sources have indicated that Megrahi’s release on compassionate grounds is the first option being considered by Mr MacAskill, with a decision expected before the end of the month.
Backed by many relatives of the British victims and senior Scottish legal figures, Megrahi has insisted he is innocent of the bombing – a claim disputed by the US authorities, the CIA and American relatives of the dead.
If it continues, his appeal will hear new evidence that casts significant doubt on the reliability and accuracy of a Maltese shopkeeper who was the lead witness, the conduct of Scottish detectives and scientific evidence about the bombing.
The Scottish government is under intense diplomatic pressure from the US government to keep Megrahi in prison. The US state department and its attorney general, Eric Holder, have formally opposed the Libyan applications.
Mr MacAskill said he recently had a “pretty difficult” video conference with US relatives who reject Megrahi’s claim that he is innocent and believe he should die in prison.