By Jim Bronskill, CP
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: March 6, 2009


OTTAWA — A federal judge has loosened the shackles — at least somewhat — on Mohamed Harkat, saying the passage of time has made the suspected al-Qaida collaborator less of a security threat.

The Ottawa man, long detained under strict bail conditions amounting to house arrest, can now be home alone during the day and early evening.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service contends Harkat, a refugee from Algeria, is an Islamic extremist and member of Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network.

He was arrested in December 2002 and faces deportation under a national security certificate.

In a ruling Friday, Federal Court Justice Simon Noel said Harkat and wife Sophie must give the Canada Border Services Agency officials who keep watch over him 36-hour notice of any occasion on which Harkat will be home alone.

Sophie Harkat must also telephone the border services agency when she leaves and upon her return to the residence. While unsupervised, Mohamed Harkat must phone the border agency every hour on the hour.

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