Canadian Court Orders Al Qaeda Suspect Released on $40,500 Bail
A Canadian court Thursday ordered the government to release on bail a Moroccan whom Ottawa suspects of belonging to Al Qaeda, federal officials and CBC television said.
The reports said a judge in Montreal had ruled that Adil Charkaoui be freed on $40,500 bail after spending 20 months in detention. He will also have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and stay with his family.
Charkaoui has been held since May 2003 under a “security certificate,” which allows detention without trial under limited circumstances. The government alleges that he had been seen with Al Qaeda officials and received terrorism training in Afghanistan.
Charkaoui, 31, denies the charges. Government officials said they did not know whether they would appeal.
Friends and relatives had pushed for Charkaoui’s release, arguing that the security certificates were unconstitutional. Oscar-winning filmmaker Denys Arcand was one of those who helped raise the bail money.
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