Lockerbie bombing: Megrahi case review may not provide closure but there are people who might be able to – Kenny MacAskill

Former Gaddafi officials, some of whom are in prison, may have information but will it ever be made public, asks Kenny MacAskill
By Kenny MacAskill
Published 19th Mar 2020, 06:00 BST
Abdelbasset al-Megrahi is escorted by security officers before appearing at a 1992 court hearing in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbiein 1988 (Picture: Manoocher Deghati/AFP via Getty Images)Abdelbasset al-Megrahi is escorted by security officers before appearing at a 1992 court hearing in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbiein 1988 (Picture: Manoocher Deghati/AFP via Getty Images)
Abdelbasset al-Megrahi is escorted by security officers before appearing at a 1992 court hearing in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbiein 1988 (Picture: Manoocher Deghati/AFP via Getty Images)

The Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission’s decision to refer the Megrahi case back to the courts really isn’t a surprise. Issues of concern in the Lockerbie bombing trial include not least the witness payments to Tony Gauci.

That isn’t a criticism of those who presided at the Camp Zeist Trial as that wasn’t known to them. But it’s unacceptable in Scottish trials for a witness to be paid. Moreover, the judges then were caustic in comments about another witness who had been rewarded by the CIA.

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So back the case goes and while it may resolve some aspects relating to Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, I won’t hold my breath that it’ll cast any more light on Lockerbie.

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That’s a travesty as since the fall of former Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi both new information and more importantly new witnesses, if not accused, have come to light.

As the regime collapsed, MI6 got the Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa out and back to London where he was debriefed, firstly by them and then by the Americans.

He’s now living an opulent life in Qatar whilst others that he served with rot in jails in Tripoli. They include Gaddafi’s henchman Abdullah Senussi and even the man believed by many to have been the bomber.

They’ll have been spoken to by the Americans if not the British and other bit-part players were also extracted. Will the information they provided be heard and will any of them even be charged?

Sadly, this review will clarify some questions regarding Megrahi, but I very much doubt it’ll provide closure on Lockerbie.