EX-GTMO DETAINEE RELEASED FROM PRE-TRIAL DETENTION

S E C R E T PARIS 004805 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL FR SUBJECT: EX-GTMO DETAINEE RELEASED FROM PRE-TRIAL DETENTION REF: PARIS 3118 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (S) Ex-GTMO detainee Imad Achab Kanouni, returned to France in July 2004, was released on bail from pre-trial detention July 7. Kanouni is one of seven French ex-GTMO detainees, five of whom now remain in police custody. Kanouni posted his home as bail and will be required to check in with his local police commissariat weekly. Terrorism investigating judge Jean-Francois Ricard (strictly protect) had previously indicated to Poloffs that Kanouni's release was probable (reftel) due to the lack of evidence the prosecution had against him. Ricard believed it was in the best interest of the prosecution to release Kanouni and drop the charges against him in order to avoid hurting the cases against the remaining five ex-detainees in custody. While this recent court decision does release Kanouni, the charges have not yet been dropped. Felix de Belloy, Kanouni's attorney, confirmed to us the release of his client and indicated that he would press for the charges to be dropped, noting he was confident that this would eventually happen. According to Belloy, his client lived in Kabul for two years under the Taliban and admits to having known and met with terrorists. However, Belloy contends that his client did not participate in their activities and that there is insufficient evidence of any link between Kanouni and terrorist acts to justify the charges. STAPLETON