Money laundering charges dropped against Gaddafi minister accused of PC murder

A former Libyan education minister has had money laundering charges against him dropped but still remains on bail over conspiracy to murder PC Yvonne Fletcher more than 30 years ago.

Dr Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a member of Colonel Gaddafi’s revolutionary committee, was standing with pro-Gaddafi demonstrators when PC Fletcher was shot outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984.

He was deported from Britain after her murder. However, the order was lifted in 2000 and he came back to the UK to seek political asylum in 2011 and was subsequently arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) in November 2015.

On April 17, 1984, a large group of anti-Gadaffi campaigners had gathered outside the Libyan People`s Bureau in St James`s Square.

Gaddafi supporters held a counter demonstration nearby, which police believe was organised and coordinated by people within the bureau.

A number of shots were fired from within the bureau, including some from an automatic weapon, hitting PC Fletcher in the back. Fellow officers ran to her assistance as she lay on the ground. She died a short time after at Westminster Hospital.

In a statement released on Tuesday (August 2), the MPS said: “A man in his 50s, a woman in her 40s and a second man in his 30s were informed on Thursday, July 28, that they were being released from police bail in relation to money laundering allegations.

“They were informed that the investigation has concluded and that there is insufficient evidence to proceed to charging.”

It is believed the other two people released are Dr Mabrouk’s wife and son, who are reported to have been arrested at the same time in November 2015 on suspicion of money laundering.

Dr Mabrouk remains on bail on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.