Crown wants closed-door hearings in lawsuit of Canadian who was detained in Sudan
CTV
The Crown wants at least six current and former security officials to testify behind closed doors in the lawsuit of a Montreal man who was detained in Sudan — a move the man's lawyer calls a serious infringement of the open court principle.
The Crown wants at least six current and former security officials to testify behind closed doors in the lawsuit of a Montreal man who was detained in Sudan — a move the man's lawyer calls a serious infringement of the open court principle.
In a notice of motion filed in Federal Court, government lawyers propose the public and media be excluded from the courtroom during the officials' testimony to "prevent inadvertent disclosure" of sensitive secrets.
It is the latest twist in the protracted case of Abousfian Abdelrazik, who is suing the Canadian government for $27 million over his detention abroad.
Abdelrazik, 62, arrived in Canada as a refugee in 1990. He became a Canadian citizen five years later.
He was arrested during a 2003 visit to Sudan to see family. In custody, Abdelrazik was interrogated by CSIS about suspected extremist links. He says he was tortured by Sudanese intelligence officials during two periods of detention.
Federal lawyers reject suggestions the Crown breached any duty of care owed to Abdelrazik or that any such breach contributed to his alleged false imprisonment, torture and abuse.
Abdelrazik denies involvement in terrorism, and his long-delayed action against the government is slated for this fall in Federal Court.
