A Montrealer who is accused of having ties to global terrorism is suing the federal government.
Mohamed Omary is suing federal prosecutors, the RCMP and CSIS for $5.5 million in damages claiming loss of revenue and unfair treatment by security services, both in Canada and during visits to his native Morocco.
Though he has never been charged with anything, Omary has been a person of interest to Canadian and Moroccan authorities since the early 1990s.
Security officials presented some of the information they have on Omary during their defence against his lawsuit.
Canada's solictor general argues that it is Omary's own actions that have caused him so much trouble.
Government lawyers say he has had ties to at least six Islamic terrorists or men with terrorist and criminal connections - including Ahmed Rassam - the would-be millenium bomber, now serving 22 years for a plot to bomb an airport.
There are also questions about how a man who has been reportedly living off welfare has been able to travel as much as Omary has.
"He's travelled extensively around the world for at least six years that we know and met with a number of individuals that have since been killed, charged, convicted or linked to terrorism," says Andrew McIntosh, an investigative reporter who has been following Omary's case.
Omary has said that his travels were mainly for humanitarian work.
Federal officials doubt that claim, stating that during a trip to Bosnia he was taught how to fire an AK-47 weapon and became a member of a gun club on Montreal's south shore.
"For years and years and years all his entourage were basically linked one way or the other to terrorist or organized crime activities," says Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS officer.
In addition to allegations of terror ties, justice department officials argue that Omary has no real grounds to claim a loss of income.
They say he has never had any income other than welfare, according to Revenue Quebec records.
Omary's next court date will likely be this fall.
