Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi is abandoning his appeal against conviction, his lawyers said Friday, following reports he is set to be freed on compassionate grounds. Lawyers for the former Libyan agent, jailed for 27 years over the 1988 atrocity, made the application two days ago to the High Court in Edinburgh, said legal firm Taylor & Kelly.
It still has to be approved by the court and a hearing will take place at Edinburgh's High Court on Tuesday, the Scottish Courts Service said. Libya has also applied for him to be transferred to serve his sentence in a prison in his homeland, and dropping the appeal could pave the way for this to take place.
"There cannot be an application under the prisoner transfer agreement where there are ongoing (legal) procedures," a Scottish government spokeswoman said, adding that an ongoing appeal had "no bearing" on his application for compassionate release. Megrahi, an ex Libyan agent, was ordered to serve at least 27 years for the bombing, which killed 270 people when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the Scottish village of Lockerbie.
British media reported earlier this week that he could be set free on compassionate grounds next week as he has prostate cancer which his supporters say is terminal. Officials say no decision has yet been taken. There are three possible avenues by which Megrahi could be sent home.
The first would be a successful appeal against conviction. His second appeal against conviction got under way in a Scottish court in April after a first attempt failed in 2002. The second would be release on compassionate grounds which reports suggest Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill could approve next week in time for Megrahi to return to Libya before the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.