After initially appealing, Megrahi abandoned his second appeal in August 2009 as an ongoing appeal would have prevented him from being moved to Libya under the Prisoner Transfer Scheme which was thought to be a possibility. He decided to drop his appeal two days
[3] before he was released
on compassionate grounds by the
Scottish Government on 20 August 2009. Doctors reported on 10 August 2009 that he had
terminal prostate cancer.
[4][5] On his return to Libya, al-Megrahi was initially hospitalized then allowed to leave on 2 November 2009, taking up residence in a villa in
Tripoli.
[6] He died on 20 May 2012, two years and 9 months after his release.
[7]