*(CNN) — A Libyan man accused of being involved in making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in Scotland in December 1988 made an initial court appearance Monday in a federal court in Washington, DC, where he was formally charged in connection with the terrorist attack.

Though Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi was informed by US Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather of the three criminal counts he’s been charged with by the government and read his rights, he did not enter a plea, citing the need to retain counsel before proceeding in the case.

The court scheduled a pre-trial detention hearing on December 27 to give Mas’ud time to retain counsel.

The charges brought against Mas’ud include “destruction of aircraft resulting in death,” which carries with it the death penalty, life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or a combination of the prison term and the fine. Federal prosecutors said they do not plan to pursue the death penalty in the case because the punishment was not constitutionally available the year the crime was committed.

Source: Lockerbie Bombing Suspect Makes First Court Appearance in DC Federal Court | VIDEO