Rendition case Libyan Sami al-Saadi still plans to sue Hong Kong government
Rendition victim who agreed settlement with Britain to step up action against HK government
A Libyan dissident still plans to sue the Hong Kong government for its role in his illegal rendition to his home country in 2004, despite reaching a £2 million (HK$25 million) compensation deal with Britain last week.
Lawyers for Sami al-Saadi, a vocal opponent of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said they would now step up their pursuit of justice in Hong Kong.
"All eyes are on the Hong Kong government now," said Ghada Eldemellawy, an investigator with the British-based human rights legal charity Reprieve, representing Saadi.
"The case raises very serious allegations against the most senior government officials in Hong Kong and our team is fully focused on litigation."
Saadi said, through his lawyers, he was "looking forward to the long-overdue response" to a pre-action letter sent to the Department of Justice in June, which indicated his plans to sue local authorities.
The 12-page letter from his legal team at Ho, Tse, Wai & Partners details Saadi's allegations and seeks full disclosure of documents relating to a privately-chartered Egypt Air flight in 2004 which took Saadi, his wife and four young children to Tripoli.
There, Saadi claims, he was jailed and tortured.