news No torture, CSIS says

[rwilli1]

No torture, CSIS says



37 minutes ago





By The Canadian Press


OTTAWA - The head of Canada's spy agency says CSIS does not rely on information extracted through torture - disowning the previous testimony of a senior employee.

Jim Judd, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told a Commons committee Thursday that a CSIS official misspoke on the subject earlier this week. CSIS lawyer Geoffrey O'Brian said Tuesday that the agency will use statements collected through force when lives are at stake.

O'Brian told the committee the spy service would overlook the origin of the information if it could prevent another 9/11 terrorist attack or Air India jetliner bombing.

Judd said Thursday that O'Brian may have been confused and will send the committee a letter clarifying his testimony.

"My supposition is that he was venturing into a hypothetical," Judd said.

Judd allowed that CSIS may have made use of information from torture in the past, but added "our policies and practices have changed."

A federal inquiry led by Justice Dennis O'Connor made 23 recommendations on information sharing, training and monitoring of security probes - several of them aimed at CSIS.

O'Connor said policies must include specific directions "aimed at eliminating any possible Canadian complicity in torture, avoiding the risk of other human rights abuses and ensuring accountability."

He also said information should never be provided to a foreign country where there is a credible risk that it will cause or contribute to the use of torture.

Judd said CSIS has implemented O'Connor's recommendations.