[LA-F] Former Tory minister 'asked Gaddafi's son to help him get £1million fee for helping to free Lockerbie bomber'

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From: Mario LAF
Date: Sunday, September 11, 2011
Subject: [LA-F] Former Tory minister 'asked Gaddafi's son to help him get £1million fee for helping to free Lockerbie bomber'
To: Libertarian Alliance Forum <libertarian-alliance-forum@yahoogroups.com>


Former Tory minister 'asked Gaddafi's son to help him get £1million fee for helping to free Lockerbie bomber'

By David Richards <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=David+Richards>

Last updated at 10:49 AM on 11th September 2011

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The former trade minister, who served under Margaret Thatcher, had joined forces with Scottish QC Professor Robert Black, and the pair provided political and legal expertise.

A former Conservative minister asked Muammar Gaddafi's fugitive son Saif al-Islam to help him recover almost £1million in fees for his efforts to free the Lockerbie bomber, it was reported today.

Details of Lord Trefgarne's claim for "fees owed" for advice to the Libyans ahead of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi's appeal case were uncovered in an abandoned farmhouse in the outskirts of Tripoli, according to the Sunday Times.

The former trade minister, who served under Margaret Thatcher, had joined forces with Scottish QC Professor Robert Black, and the pair provided political and legal expertise.

A letter, on House of Lords notepaper and dated June 4, 2007, to Saif - who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity - referred to a meeting in Britain, the newspaper said.

The note said while the £940,000 fee "may seem a large sum" it covered "nine years' work".

"During the course of our conversations in London I ventured to draw your attention to the problem being experienced by Professor Robert Black and myself in relation to fees owed over a considerable number of years," the letter said.

"The amount now owing following a small payment on account is 1.5m USD. This may seem a large sum but in fact represents nine years' remuneration, no less, for two senior professionals and is measurably below, we are told, the hourly/daily rates paid to some others.

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Abdel Baset al-Megrahi arriving in Tripoli after his release from prison in Scotland

"Professor Black and I would be very grateful for your advice on this matter."

Lord Trefgarne chairman of the Libyan British Business Council (LBBC), has insisted the money he actually received "barely covered expenses".

He added that the arrangement was "entirely proper" and reflected the circumstances of the time.

In a joint statement issued to the Press Association by Lord Trefgarne and Prof Black, the pair said in 1993 they began working towards unblocking the "impasse" that was preventing Megrahi's trial taking place because Libya refused to extradite him to Scotland or the United States.

It added: "Over the course of the next six years, Lord Trefgarne and Professor Black worked strenuously to secure acceptance of the neutral venue scheme that Professor Black formulated in early 1994.

"No payment was sought or received for these endeavours. It was only after Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi's conviction at Zeist in January 2001 and Professor Black had publicly expressed the strong view that that conviction was legally unwarranted, that an agreement was entered into with his lawyer, Dr Ibrahim Legwell, that Lord Trefgarne and Professor Black should receive payment for future political and legal advice on avenues of appeal.

"In the event the only sum actually paid barely covered expenses. Lord Trefgarne and Professor Black again emphasise that this was an entirely proper arrangement reflecting the circumstances of the time.

"Lord Trefgarne did declare this matter in the House of Lords Register in accordance with the rules then in force."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036135/Former-Tory-minister-asked-Gaddafis-son-help-1million-fee-helping-free-Lockerbie-bomber.html#ixzz1XfK7egQZ

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Mario Huet
Libertarian Alliance Forum
List Administrator

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