| Lamin Khalifah Fhimah الأمين خليفة فحيمة |
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|---|---|
| Born | 4 April 1956 Suq el Juma'a, Tripoli, Libya |
| Charge(s) | Murder Conspiracy to murder Breach of the Aviation Security Act 1982 |
| Penalty | Acquitted |
| Occupation | Station manager Libyan Arab Airlines, Luqa Airport, Malta |
| Children | Five |
Lamin Khalifa Fhimah (Arabic: الأمين خليفة فحيمة, al-Amīn Khalīfah Faḥīmah) (born 4 April 1956) was a station manager for Libyan Arab Airlines at Luqa Airport, Malta. On 31 January 2001, he was found not guilty and acquitted of 270 counts of murder in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial by a panel of three Scottish judges sitting in a special court at Camp Zeist, Netherlands,[1] in light of evidence that he was in Sweden at the time of the sabotage and could not have been a participant. His co-accused, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was found guilty by unanimous decision of the court and sentenced to life imprisonment, but later released for compassionate reasons.
He was born and lives in Suq el Juma'a, near Tripoli, Libya with his wife and five children.
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Fhimah was represented by solicitor Eddie McKechnie, advocates Richard Keen QC, Jack Davidson QC and Murdo Macleod. Representing Megrahi were his solicitor, Alistair Duff, and advocates William Taylor QC, David Burns QC and John Beckett. Both defendants also had access to Libyan defence lawyer, Mr. Maghour. Court proceedings started on 3 May 2000.
The court established that the bomb which resulted in the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on 21 December 1988 was introduced as luggage on board flight KM180 at Luqa airport. Entries in Fhimah's personal diary indicated that he may have obtained luggage tags from the airport, which could have been used to ensure that the bomb was transferred onto the Pan Am flight. Evidence corroborating this theory was not presented at the trial.[2]
The judges announced their verdict on 31 January 2001. The judges were unanimous in finding the second accused, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, not guilty of the murder charge.[3] Fhimah was freed and returned to his home at Souk al-Juma in Libya on 1 February 2001.
On 20 August 2009, Megrahi, now terminally ill, was granted a release on compassionate grounds and flew home to Tripoli later that day. Fhimah was one of the first to greet Megrahi at the top of the aircraft steps. Clad in a traditional white boubou and a brown waistcoat, he can be seen grasping Megrahi's right arm in support as he waved a small Libyan flag enthusiastically at the gathered crowd of well-wishers.[4][5]