As reported on in an earlier post, dying convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet Al-Megrahi was rejected on his appeal to be released on bail due to advanced prostate cancer.

Megrahi’s wife and family participated in the Silent Walk For Justice, which took place in Edinburgh, Scotland to raise awareness of “victims of miscarriages of justice.”

At the demonstration, Megrahi’s lawyer read a statement on behalf of Megrahi’s wife, Aisha. He read, “We are here for the sake of all those innocent souls who are suffering in silence…I call upon the people of Scotland, whom I know to be compassionate people, and all humanitarian institutions to consider the suffering of my husband.”

Family and friends of other victims of the justice system also used this opportunity to bring light to their loved ones’ situations by carrying photographs and candles during the protest.

Sarah Dada

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Bank of America, has refused to deposit $7.7 million in Libyan settlement checks by the attorney for the families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing who live in Southeastern Pennsylvania and New York.

On Monday, Attorney Mark Zaid tried to deposit four checks into his attorney trust account, each in the amount of $1,932,500. From this account, Zaid was expecting to distribute the money to his clients, who are entitled to their compensation. According to the Pittsburg Tribune-Review, this should have been possible with Zaid’s power of attorney.

Bank of America has not explained why they will not deposit the checks. Zaid has made many attempts at contacting high officials within Bank of America, including CEO Kenneth Lewis, without any response.

According to the Pittsburg Tribune-Review, Zaid said he deposited about $16 million in compensation for the Pan Am flight bombing into Citibank accounts in 2003 and 2004 without these obstacles.

Due to the issues with Bank of America, Zaid asked JPMorgan Chase, the financial trustee, to wire transfer the funds directly into his clients’ separate bank accounts instead of waiting on his own ability to deposit the checks.

Sarah Dada

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Convicted Lockerbie Bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi is terminally ill and is making a case to be released on bail due to his illness.

The Crown has insisted that Megrahi should not be released, “arguing his prognosis was ‘uncertain’ and that he could receive in jail whatever medical treatment was required.”

Appeal judges head Megrahi’s case, asking that he be released on bail, and will make a decision on his application in the next few days.

Megrahi’s lawyer said his client does not have very much time to live, and if released, will spend his remaining days with his family in Strathclyde, Scotland. Megrahi also has no risk of flight from Scotland, and the Libyan government has said he would not be allowed into Libya unless “it was appropriate for him to return.”

At this time, Megrahi is also waiting for his second appeal of his conviction in the Lockerbie bombing, but the trial will probably not begin before Spring 2009.

The main reason for opposing Megrahi’s application for release is the immense gravity of the crime he committed.

Sarah Dada

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The United States began transferring over $500 million of compensation money from Libya to the families of the victims of the bombing on Pan Am 103 in Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.

$504 million has been moved from the US Treasury to an account managed by the lawyers of the victims’ families. The rest of the $536 million total will be received and distributed shortly.

This money comes from $1.5 billion that Libya finished paying last month to compensate for Libyan terrorism in the 1980s. The fund also includes $283 million that will be distributed to the families of the victims of a Libyan attack on a Berlin disco in 1986.

Under this fund, $1.5 billion will go to American families of victims, while $300 million will go to Libyan victims and families of US strikes on Libya “in retaliation for the bombing of Berlin’s La Belle disco in 1986.”

Libyan leader, Gaddafi, has not made it clear as to where the Libyan money came from, but US President Bush says that no US tax money will be used to pay for the compensations.

Libya’s payment of the compensation has brought relations between Libya and the US to stability.

Sarah Dada

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Scotland’s Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill would be faced with al-Megrahi’s case, should the prisoner decide to submit an application for early release.  If this does occur, MacAskill will be in a bind.  Because many people still believe that al-Megrahi is innocent, by ruling against the application for early release, MacAskill would be confirming al-Megrahi’s guilt.  MacAskill is also faced with weighing the medical evidence in this case, because he must be sure that al-Megrahi’s medical situation will not allow him to live more than the three months.

All of these factors, on top of the pressure of the families of those who were killed in the bombing, make MacAskill’s potential decision a monumental one.

Al-Megrahi is currently waiting to appeal his conviction for the second time.  This appeal is expected to occur next year, and his lawyers have confirmed that even if al-Megrahi passes away, the appeal to prove his innocence will still go on.

If the application for early release is in fact approved, though, there is still an issue with al-Megrahi returning to Libya.  As the UK has not signed a prison-transfer agreement with Libya, a prisoner from Scotland cannot be transferred to Libya without the approval of both states.

Conflicting opinions about the release of al-Megrahi on this medical basis has raised strong feelings from the families of those killed as a result of the bombing.  Some believe he should be released to spend his last days with his family while others are still adament about keeping him in jail until his death.

Sarah Dada

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An agreement between Libya and the United States will end all “outstanding legal claims between the two countries,” and a compensation fund will be created for the American victims of previous Libyan sponsored terrorist attacks, most notably the 1988 bombing of a PanAm airliner over Scotland. This fund will be filled by domestic oil revenues, but also by what The Economist refers to as “donations” from corporations eager to do business in Libya. This eagerness, shown by both countries, sends a message of genuine interest in creating a more stable relationship between the US and Libya, as well as increased cooperation in the years to come.

Source: Time for a new generation (Economist)

David Crowley

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