Where is convicted Lockerbie bomber Libyan Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi now? He seems to have done a Houdini – you know, those acts revolving round the “now you see him, now you don’t” theme.
No, Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi did not escape from jail. He couldn’t have done so even if he wanted to. You see, Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was set free from Scottish jail last August, courtesy of the government of Scotland. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill decided to set Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi free on “compassionate grounds” – specifically because he was convinced that Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was suffering from terminal stage prostate cancer and had less than 3 months to live.
Later it was reported that the Libyan government paid the fees of the doctors who gave their prognosis that Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was not expected to live beyong 3 months. Then allegations that Britain did a oil-for-freedom deal with Libya over Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi began to appear in the press. In May 2007 Libya awarded a $900 million oil exploration contract to BP during then Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to that country.
Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was convicted of a terrorist act of planting a bomb onboard Pan Am Flight 103 which exploded over Loberbie, Scotland in 1998. 258 passengers and 12 crew onboard the plane lost their lives, including many Americans. Understandably the American government and relatives of the victims were upset and angry with the British government for releasing Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi from jail, all the more so when TV and the press showed Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi receiving a red carpet welcome on his return to Libya.
Well 3 months have passed, and we are now into the 4th month, and Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi has not died. But a couple of days ago, he disappeared mysteriously. It seems that he simply disappeared into thin air.
Under the terms of the release on compassionate grounds, Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi’s movement is restricted to Tripoli, capital of Libya. Further, he is not allowed to change his address. And there is one more thing he must do – Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi must keep in contact with his minders at the East Renfrewshire Council in Scotland. Now his minders cannot reach him on the telephone, and the Liyban officials are not talking.
But how effective can Scottish minders monitor Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi when they are separated thousands of miles apart? Richard Baker, Labour’s justice spokesman in the Scottish Parliament said: “This flags up just how ludicrous it is that East Renfrewshire Council, a local council thousands of miles away from Libya, is responsible for supervising al-Megrahi’s conditions of licence”.
Reporters trying to find Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi were told by security officers at his home: “They’ve all gone.” At the Tripoli Medical Centre where Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was treated for his cancer ailment, the receptionists said he was discharged some time back.
However, Jonathan Hinds of East Renfrewshire Council managed to speak with a Libyan man over the telephone at Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi’s home. He was told that Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was too sick to speak with him. Jonathan Hinds has been calling Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi every other Tuesday since August, and has always been able to speak with him.
What will happen if Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi refuses to resurface? Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman said: “This is outrageous and there will be intense anger that Britain’s biggest mass murderer appears to be able to disappear.”
Eliot Engel, a New York congressman, said: “I think it was a tremendous mistake to let him out in the first place. I don’t think a convicted terrorist has any integrity to abide by any type of agreement.”
Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter died on Pan Am Flight 103, said: “I’d certainly wish to know what is happening to him. This is a demonstration of how it is almost impossible to keep tabs on him — but he could also be seriously ill, so that must not be ruled out.”
Libya previously admitted responsibility for this bombing and paid billions of dollars to families of the dead passengers. So there you have it. The Lockerbie bomber has disappeared in a mysterious way – a perfect setting for a “now you see him, now you don’t” drama.
Previous posts
Lockerbie Bomber – Gaddafi Met Victims
Lockerbie Bomber – Medical Reports Paid By Libya
Lockerbie Bomber – Prisoner Transfer Considered
Lockerbie Bomber – Web Of Entanglement
Lockerbie Bomber – Oil For Freedom Deal?
A Hero’s Welcome For A Mass Murderer
How many clues continue to convict Mr Megrahi. A half of one.
Mr Giaka’s evidence was that he saw Mr Megrahi make a bomb WAS REJECTED BY THE SCOTTISH COURT AT ZEIST.
Mr Gauci was interviewed by the police 20 TIMES before he identified Mr Megrahi, and had originally said the shopper was over 6 foot high and between 50 and 60. Mr Megrahi was 5′ 8″ and 38 at the time. Before Mr Gauci finally identified Mr Megrahi he had seen a British newspaper with Mr Megrahi’s photograph in it.
And the half clue?
Mr Megrahi was said to have been at Luqa Airport on 21 December 1988, and Mr Fhimah, too. The Court rejected the claim that Mr Fhimah was there, and so he was acquitted. The plot required Mr Megrahi to work together with Mr Fhimah, but that could not be substantiated by the prosecution. So Mr Megrahi should have been acquitted!
Charles Norrie