The man they sent to Gaddafi: Foreign Office pays out
By politics.co.uk staff
The Foreign Office will pay out £2.2 million to a Libyan dissident who says he was tortured after being forcibly returned to the country from the UK during Colonel Gaddafi's rule.
In a move which will prove deeply embarrassing to the British establishment, Sami al-Saadi and his family will agree to end their legal action against the UK after receiving the money.
"My family suffered enough when they were kidnapped and flown to Gaddafi's Libya," a statement issued via al-Saadi's solicitors said.
"They will now have the chance to complete their education in the new, free Libya. I will be able to afford the medical care I need because of the injuries I suffered in prison.
"I started this process believing that a British trial would get to the truth in my case. But today, with the government trying to push through secret courts, I feel that to proceed is not best for my family.
"I went through a secret trial once before, in Gaddafi's Libya. In many ways, it was as bad as the torture. It is not an experience I care to repeat."
He added: "Even now, the British government has never given an answer to the simple question: 'Were you involved in the kidnap of me, my wife and my children?'"
According to al-Saadi, he and his family were transferred to Libya by MI6, in a joint operation with the authorities there and the US. As a leading opponent of the regime, he was then tortured.
Documents relating to the alleged agreement were found during the overthrow of Gaddafi.
There has been no comment from the Foreign Office.
