CSIS official does about-face on torture testimony

posted on April 04, 2009 | in Category CSIS | PermaLink

by The Canadian Press
Source: CTV News
URL: [link]
Date: April 2, 2009

Csis

OTTAWA -- A senior CSIS official has backpedalled on his admission that the spy agency uses information extracted through torture.

In a letter to the Commons public safety committee Thursday, Geoffrey O'Brian of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said his comments to MPs this week "may have provoked some confusion."

"I wish to clarify for the committee that CSIS certainly does not condone torture and that it is the policy of CSIS to not knowingly rely upon information that may have been obtained through torture," O'Brian wrote.

He is a lawyer who provides advice on legislative issues at the spy service, where he has worked since its inception almost 25 years ago.

The letter contrasted sharply with his testimony at a committee hearing on Tuesday

O'Brian told MPs then that the agency would use information gathered through torture in the rare instance that it could prevent a catastrophic terrorist plot like the 1985 Air India bombing or the 9-11 attacks.

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