by Andrew Duffy , Canwest News Service
Source: Canada.com National News
URL: [link]
Date: October 07, 2008

OTTAWA - Ottawa terror suspect Mohamed Harkat learned Tuesday that he will see more of the previously secret evidence that national security agents have collected against him.

Federal Court Justice Simon Noel revealed that Crown prosecutors are preparing a new series of disclosures to be made to Harkat and his defence team. That evidence is also expected to be made public.

Harkat welcomed the development in his security certificate case, which began with his arrest in December, 2002.

"At least this time, I will know the questions I have to answer," he said outside court.

Harkat's lawyer, Norm Boxall, said the disclosure suggests the new security certificate process is working. "Is it moving in the right direction now that there's more disclosure coming? Yes, it is," he said.

During his initial hearing, which concluded in March, 2005 with a finding that he was a national security threat, Harkat knew little of the case against him. No government witnesses were called in public, which meant that Harkat's lawyers were unable to cross-examine any of the witnesses who had supplied evidence against their client.

That secretive process was struck down as unfair last year by the Supreme Court of Canada. The high court said the process was fundamentally unjust because it denied accused terrorists the right to meet the case against them.

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