US PAYMENT OF $3 MILLION TO LOCKERBIE WITNESSES

Photo of Gauci's shop from americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/l.... (It is unlikely that the 'bomb' went onto a plane in Malta.)

On 3 October 2009 The Guardian reports that the Lockerbie papers say the US paid a witness

According to legal papers, released on 2 October 2009, Paul and Tony Gauci, key people in the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber, were secretly given rewards of up to $3m (£1.9m).

This deal was discussed by Scottish detectives and the US government.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) was asked to pay $2m to Tony Gauci.

Gauci is the Maltese shopkeeper who gave evidence that Megrahi had bought clothes later used in the suitcase that allegedly held the Lockerbie bomb.

The DoJ was also asked to pay $1m to his brother, Paul Gauci, who played a role in identifying the clothing and in "maintaining the resolve of his brother".

The secret payments were uncovered by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC).

Many references to the payments were in private diaries kept by the detectives involved.

A memo written by "DI Dalgleish" to "ACC Graham" in 2007 confirms the Gaucis received "substantial payments from the American authorities".

The inspector claims there was "a real danger that if [the] SCCRC's statement of reasons is leaked to the media, Anthony Gauci could be portrayed as having given flawed evidence for financial reward."

The documents disclose that in 1989 the FBI told Dumfries and Galloway police that they wanted to offer Gauci "unlimited money" and $10,000 immediately.



In 23 police interviews, Gauci gave contradictory evidence about who he believed bought the clothes, the person's age, appearance and the date of purchase.

Two identification experts said the police and prosecution broke the rules on witness interviews, using "suggestive" lines of questioning and allowing "irregular" identification line-ups.

Two new witnesses, Michael Rufalo and David Wright, disproved the prosecution claim that Megrahi was in Gauci's shop on 7 December.

Gauci said the area's Christmas lights were not on when the clothes were bought.

Michael Rufalo, Maltese high commissioner to the UK, told the SCCRC the lights were switched on on 6 December.

David Wright saw two different men buying very similar clothes on a different day.

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Dirk J. Vandewalle, associate professor of government at Dartmouth College, is quoted as stating that a judge from the Scottish panel that in January 2001 convicted Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi of the Lockerbie bombing told him during a conversation that “there was enormous pressure put on the court to get a conviction.” - “Still Chafing After 40 Years, Qaddafi Baffles the West With His Behavior”

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