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| Saif el-Islam Gaddafi |
LONDON. The London School of Economics is investigating allegations that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif el-Islam Gaddafi, plagiarized his 2008 PhD thesis at the prestigious institution, British media reported.
The LSE in a statement said it is investigating two specific claims against Saif al-Islam , 37, and was aware of allegations that he may have used a ghostwriter for his thesis . "The allegations are in the public domain about possible plagiarism in Saif Gaddafi's PhD thesis,'' an LSE spokesperson said. "We have also received direct allegations and are seeking more specific information in a couple of cases. We are also carrying out our own checks.''
The LSE's Centre for the Study of Global Governance director David Held said there was a rumour that he may not have been the sole author of the thesis. "I wrote straight away to his supervisor but there was no substantial evidence .'' He said there are accusations of several sections in the thesis being reproduced virtually verbatim from elsewhere without due credit. Saif al-Islam studied at the centre.
The matter could be particularly embarrassing for Indian origin LSE economics professor Meghnad Desai, who examined Saif al-Islam before doctorate was awarded. "I read the thesis,I examined him with an examiner, he defended his thesis very, very thoroughly, he had nobody else present, and I don't think there's any reason to think he didn't do it himself ,'' said Desai.
Saif al-Islam said eminent Harvard University economist Joseph Nye read parts of his manuscript and offered advice and thanked the USbased Monitor Group for providing empirical data for his writing in his acknowledgements . The group advises governments on economic development. It has a branch in London, where Rahul Gandhi reportedly worked before entering politics.
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