A Canadian potato farmer who was arrested in Lebanon a year ago
has been released from prison in Beirut and is expected to arrive home on
Saturday, officials said.
Henk Tepper, 44, one of Canada's largest potato growers, was
arrested in Lebanon in March 2011 under an Interpol warrant for allegedly
selling bad produce to Algeria.
"I am pleased that Canadian consular officials have helped
secure the release of Mr. Henk Tepper," Canadian Foreign Minister Diane
Ablonczy said in a statement.
New Brunswick Senator, Pierrette Ringuette, who had lobbied the
government in Ottawa to secure Tepper's release, said she was concerned about
his health.
"The Henk Tepper I've visited in Beirut has lost about 40
pounds, his eyes are red, his back is curved as if he was carrying a bag of a
hundred pounds of potatoes on his back," she said.
Tepper was on an agricultural trade mission arranged by the
Canadian government when he was arrested in response to the warrant.
Algeria was seeking his transfer to prosecute him for allegedly
selling 3,800 metric tons of potatoes to the country in October 2007 which it
claims were "dangerous to humans if consumed."
Algeria further claimed that Tepper had forged Canadian documents
certifying the quality of the potatoes to sneak them past customs.
Tepper, through his Canadian lawyer Rodney Gillis, denied the
accusations.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/35286
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