On 24 July 2009, Mr al-Megrahi applied to the Scottish Ministers for compassionate release under section 3 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993. Under that section, the Scottish Ministers “may at any time, if satisfied that there are compassionate grounds justifying the release of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment, release him on licence”, so long as they first consult the Parole Board for Scotland (unless it is impracticable to do so).
Read the report here: 3rd Report 2010: The decision on Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
Published: 5 February 2010