Wednesday 12 July 2017

Justice Secretary to meet Megrahi over repatriation

[What follows is the text of a report published on The Scotsman website on this date in 2009:]

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill is to meet the Lockerbie bomber to discuss his possible transfer home to Libya to serve out the rest of his prison sentence.

The Scottish Government confirmed yesterday that it had received a request from Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi to meet Mr MacAskill to put his case. A meeting is likely to take place "soon", probably in Greenock prison, where Megrahi, who has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, is being held.

Megrahi was convicted in 2001 for the 1988 bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, in which 270 people died.

A spokesman for Mr MacAskill said: "The justice secretary feels it is right to hear from all the people who would be affected by the decision to ensure he has the best possible information on which to base any decision."

The transfer application, which was submitted in May, normally takes around 90 days to complete. A decision from Mr MacAskill, who has vowed to ignore political and economic considerations, is expected by mid-August.

It is separate to a second appeal against his conviction from Megrahi being considered by the Scottish courts. A decision on this has been delayed until the autumn due to the illness of one of the judges.

In determining whether to allow the transfer, Mr MacAskill has also sought the views of the British and American families of victims of the attack, as well as that of US attorney-general Eric Holder.

Mr MacAskill said last month: "The Lockerbie air disaster remains the most serious terrorist atrocity committed in the United Kingdom. I am aware of the pain and grief still being experienced by many people whose lives were affected by it both here in Scotland and across the world."

Megrahi's case was raised by Libyan leader Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, when he met Gordon Brown at last week's G8 summit in Italy, but the Prime Minister told him it was a matter for the Scottish Government.

[RB: Commentary on the MacAskill visit to Megrahi can be found here.]

1 comment:

  1. DOSSIER LOCKERBIE, 2017 google translation, German/English:

    Mr. Ben Hassan El-Badri, can additionally reveal decisive facts with his knowledge, as witness at the new appeal in Scotland, for the exoneration of Libya and Abdelbaset al Megrahi, in the "Lockerbie evidence fraud, PanAm 103".
    Where is Ben Hassan El-Badri (born 02.09 1947) ?
    El-Badri, was 1987-1989, integrated in the Residentur of the 'gray eminence'. In 1988. El-Badri rented an office for his unofficial company (ABH) at MEBO Ltd, in Zürich/Switzerland.
    El-Badri brought Mr. Abdelbaset al Megrahi, in connection with Mebo Ltd. and owner Edwin Bollier.

    El-Badri was for questionable reasons, not assigned as a crucial witness in the court, Kamp Van Zeist 2000 !!!
    Based on documents and facts, can it be assumed that the officially unregistered company (ABH) of Ben Hassan El Badri (BADRI) as residency for operational and conspiratorial preparations - was built to mislead and suspect arbitrary assassinations -against the Gaddafi regime?

    On February 23, 1988, Badri opened a bank account with a cash deposit of CHF 1,050,000.00 at Credit Suisse, at the airport in Zurich.
    In Geneva, on the 7th Nov. 1995, El Badri, according to a disclosed listening protocol of the Swiss Federal Prosecutor (service BUPO), noted that he was working for the Libyan government and that his "business activities" were illegal according to Libyan laws.

    After the opening of the mysterious firm ABH (office in Zurich) at the beginning of 1988, Badri transfered to three Libyan friends - among others, Abdelbaset al Megrahi - each 20% of the shares from ABH, in Zurich. The shares were donated as a commission for the successful transactions.
    When Mr. Al Megrahi noticed that BADRI, purposefully planned by incorporating his friends, was somewhat negative against the Gaddafi regime, there was fierce resistance and strife between al-Megrahi and Badri.
    Because Al Megrahi absolutely did not want to be active against the "Gaddafi circle" conspiratorial, he resigned immediately as a shareholder, in August 1988, and Badri dissolved the company surprisingly.
    Badri's interrogation by the police examination, he say: because the business did not develop as I hoped...

    After a phone call from eng. Ezzedein (Tripoli) BADRI, personally ordered, by MEBO Ltd/Bollier, at the end of November 1988, 40 pieces of MST13 timer, which should be delivered as soon as possible. Due to delivery difficulties the order could not be executed. (The accompanying supplement is known on the court).

    Badri cancel at the end of December 1988, the tenancy agreement and paid MEBO, for the rent of the office CHF 10'000.-- with a dated check of Credit Suisse, and disappeared after 21 December 1988, to Libya.
    After all, the bank check was not covered because Badri's bank account, was in the meantime dissolved.
    These actions of El Badri & ABH, for the time being, have nothing to do with the attack on PanAm 103, over Lockerbie, but must only be considered as preparations material - to involve the Gaddafi regime, in an possible, unknown, arbitrary bombing ?

    A manipulated MST'13 Timerfragment (PT35) and a visit of Abdelbaset al Megrahi, in Malta, on 20/21 1988, the court in Kamp Van Zeist (2000) used this as circumstantial evidence to accuse the state of Libya and Abdelbaset al Megrahi of having carried out the attack on PanAm 103, over Lockerbie.

    The central, decisive piece of evidence (PT35) was at the court, false compared, with the 20 pieces of MST-13 timers, delivered by MEBO Ltd, to the Libyan military procurement (1985/86); two years before the Lockerbie tragedy...
    Libya and Abdelbaset al Megrahi, have nothing to do with the bombing on PanAm 103, at December 21, 1988. No justice without the truth !

    by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd. Telecommunication Switzerland. Webpage: www.lockerbie.ch

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