Lockerbie bomber: 27 years
2003-11-24 14:06
Glasgow, Scotland - The Libyan intelligence agent jailed for the Lockerbie bombing must serve at least 27 years in prison before he can be considered for parole, a Scottish court ruled on Monday.
Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi, 51, listened to the proceedings in the Scottish High Court through an interpreter and was separated from the public gallery by bulletproof glass. Al-Megrahi was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York.
Monday's hearing was required under the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires that all current and future prisoners sentenced to life be told the minimum time they must serve before being considered for parole. The convention was incorporated into Scottish law nine months after al-Megrahi was sentenced.
- AP