Scotland’s top prosecutor will ask police to examine the findings of an aborted investigation into UK involvement in CIA-run torture flights.
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland plans to “highlight” to Scottish detectives an inquiry that found that Britain might have become “inappropriately” involved in the US extraordinary-rendition programme.
Judge Sir Peter Gibson identified evidence of UK links to the illegal kidnap, transfer and torture of terror suspects in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the US in 2001.
His inquiry was abandoned because witnesses were involved in police investigations into allegations about Libyan victims, and a fresh probe by a committee of MPs and peers has now been ordered in its place.
Police Scotland launched a fresh investigation into extraordinary rendition in June – a week after the Press and Journal revealed new evidence from academics at two universities about the use of Aberdeen, Inverness and Wick airports by CIA-linked planes.
Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, wrote to Mr Mulholland last month asking him to comment on Sir Peter’s investigation.
In a response, seen by the Press and Journal, the Lord Advocate said he could not comment but would “highlight the relevant content of the report to those conducting that investigation”.
Last night, Mr Stewart said: “I think it is important that the police are made aware of this report and take that into account when conducting the further investigations that they are carrying out.”
He added: “It’s a little bit disappointing that this investigation is taking so much time, but I understand it is probably quite complex and requires that period to get it absolutely right.
“I do hope that the police have actually allocated appropriate resources to ensure that this investigation is carried out properly.”
Sir Peter’s report did not offer final conclusions, but instead set out 27 issues that he felt required further examination.