The British broadcasting site, BBC, has reported that lawyers for Abu Ajila Masud, a Libyan citizen extradited to the United States by the Dbeibah government, are seeking to postpone his upcoming trial scheduled for May due to his deteriorating health condition in a U.S. prison.
The report highlights that the trial of the suspect, allegedly involved in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing which resulted in 270 casualties, was initially set to commence in the United States in May. Both prosecution and defense have requested a postponement based on Masud’s health issues and the complexity of the case.
Masud, who is in his seventies, is reportedly dealing with a non-life-threatening health condition, requiring ongoing medical treatment. In December, the District Court in Columbia was informed that his health would likely delay the trial by 90 to 120 days.
Additional information suggests further delays might be needed, prompting lawyers to ask for more time to revise the pre-trial schedule and set a new date. Meanwhile, the U.S. government continues to provide the defense with copies of the materials and evidence planned for use in the trial. A hearing regarding the case may be scheduled for next month if the judge approves the request.
Masud was controversially seized from his home in Tripoli by a militia group in November 2022 and handed over to American authorities under unclear circumstances. In response to backlash from opposition politicians, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah stated that the extradition complied with an Interpol request. After his court appearance in Washington in December 2022, Masud has maintained his innocence regarding the charges against him.
