Probe: Flawed data behind bomber's release

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- An inquiry into the compassionate release of the convicted Pan American flight 103 bomber discovered the prognosis used was faulty, a U.S. Senate report said.

The report's release Tuesday coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, killing 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 and 11 on the ground.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was released from a Scottish prison in 2009 on the grounds he had cancer and was likely wouldn't survive more than three months.

The report, "Justice Undone: The Release of the Lockerbie Bomber," arose from a five-month investigation led by the office of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and was co-signed by Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, and Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, both of New York.

"The three-month prognosis given to al-Megrahi by Scottish doctors was inaccurate and unsupported by medical science," the report said. Al-Megrahi was still alive in Libya, although recent reports indicated his health was failing.

The report criticized the Scottish government's decision to grant al-Megrahi compassionate release, saying it was determined by general medical practitioners, not specialists, who were "clearly involved in political, intergovernmental discussions."

"In view of the flawed process, we believe that the Scottish government simply intended to use compassionate release as political cover for returning al-Megrahi to Libya -- regardless of whether his physical condition met the requirements," the report said.

Menendez said he sought the investigation after British and Scottish officials refused to testify at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in July.

The report indicated the decision to release al-Megrahi also was motivated partially by a desire to preserve an oil exploration agreement between Libya and BP, The Hill reported.

"The threat of commercial warfare was a motivating factor. The U.K. knew that in order to maintain trade relations with Libya, it had to give into political demands. Faced with the threat of losing the lucrative BP oil deal and other commercial ties, the U.K. agreed to include al-Megrahi's release in a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya," the report said.