COPS SORRY FOR DOCTOR PROBE DELAY

Campaigners told there is enough evidence to prosecute

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

VICTIMS of “brain butcher” surgeon Sam Eljamel have been issued with an apology from cops over delays in their probe into the rogue medic.

It is now almost seven years since the first complaints were raised by victims of Eljamel, who fled to his homeland of Libya after complaints by dozens of patients.

Victims want Eljamel brought back to Scotland to be prosecuted for his reign of terror at NHS Tayside, with 209 complaints made about his botched surgeries.

Now police have issued an apology to victims over delays in their investigation at a face-to-face meeting yesterday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone, head of Police Scotland's Major Crime Unit, delivered a personal apology for the shortcomings during the first five years of the investigation.

And Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain told victims there was enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – which would mean seeking Eljamel's return from Libya.

Welcoming the apologies campaigner and Eljamel victim Jules Rose said: “Many victims are in their 60s, some are 70 plus years of age. They were operated on some decades ago and are living with chronic pain and with mental trauma.