Air India bomb builder to be released from prison

[BlackFlag]

Air India bomb builder to be released from prison

Updated Wed. Jul. 9 2008 3:33 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

After spending 20 years behind bars for his role in the Air India bombings, Inderjit Singh Reyat could be a free man as early as today, after the B.C. Court of Appeal granted him bail on perjury charges.

Reyat was serving two separate convictions related to the incident that killed 331 people off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985 and in another explosion at Japan's Narita airport.

He was the only person ever convicted in the bombings, the worst mass murder in Canadian history. He served his entire sentence for the two convictions and was kept in jail on perjury charges for his testimony at the trial of another two men accused in taking part in the bombings.

His wife, Satnam, told The Canadian Press she was not sure when Reyat would be released but it would probably be Wednesday, once the paperwork was completed.

Earlier this year, the B.C. Supreme Court denied Reyat bail on accusations that he lied in his testimony at the trial that ended in the acquittals of Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik.

Justice Ian Josephson called Reyat "an unmitigated liar under oath" in his acquittal ruling.

The B.C. Supreme Court denied bail to Reyat, saying that his detention was necessary to maintain confidence in the justice system.

In June, Reyat's lawyer asked the Appeal Court to overturn the ruling.

"He's been in jail a long time," his lawyer, Ian Donaldson, said outside the court after the decision Wednesday.

"He doesn't know yet, but I'm sure that he'll be pleased when he hears."

It is not yet known what conditions Reyat will have to meet while on bail.

The Air India bombing is believed to have been plotted by militant extremists in B.C. who were allegedly retaliating against the government-owned airline for a raid on the Golden Temple, formally known as the Harmandir Sahib, which is Sikhism's holiest shrine.

Air India flight 182, originating from Toronto with a Montreal stopover exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 passengers and crew. Two baggage handlers died at Narita airport when luggage was being transferred on to another Air India flight.

The luggage carrying the explosives was checked in at Vancouver's airport.

Reyat's perjury trial is scheduled for January.

[gamercube]

People like him should be given the death sentence.

[Blademaster]

Gamercube,

Guess what? Leftists/Communists don't support death penalty.

[gamercube]

Riight.....and those who have ball$ don't hide behind snide comments.

[Mobbme]

People like him should be given the death sentence.

Agreed.

[BlackFlag]

Gamercube,

Guess what? Leftists/Communists don't support death penalty.

Perhaps 'leftists' inherently don't support the death penalty.

However, 'Communist' countries most certainly have utilized the death penalty.

[BlackFlag]

People like him should be given the death sentence.

Incredibly, he was charged with manslaughter and given the corresponding sentence of 20 years. Unfortunately, the law is the law, and Canada had/has no legal framework pertaining to crimes of this specific nature and magnitude. The result: for the killing of over 300 people, he received a charge and sentence parallel to one received by those who murder a cheating spouse.

It is obvious that this sentence is morally and ethically incoherent. The Canadian government should have enacted (although it would have been hastily done and Human Rights Groups would have protested feverishly) special terror-related legislation for which this crime could be dealt. Retroactive (retrospective) type of legislation would have contravened many aspects of Canada's legal framework, yet I still feel for an exceptional case such as this, legal exceptions must be made.

Had this occurred post-9/11, perhaps it would have been dealt with differently.

[Knaur Amarsh]

Only person ever convicted in the bombings and he is going free :(

IMHO civilised society has no need for such men,if not the death penalty,then at least they should'ev let him rot in jail

[glyn]

The least they should do is deport him to India. They have paid plenty for him over the last 20 years.

[kuku]

Only person ever convicted in the bombings and he is going free :(

IMHO civilised society has no need for such men,if not the death penalty,then at least they should'ev let him rot in jail

No one cares, only we do, and we should be strong enough, the week have no voice.

War on terror, right.

[Ray]

Lockerbie had justice.

Wonder why?

[Knaur Amarsh]

Lockerbie had justice.

Wonder why?

Sir,

My knowledge of the Pan Am bombing is rather shaky, if it wouldn't be too bothersome, could you please amplify and shed a little more light on your comment?

[Dr Fu Manchu]

The least they should do is deport him to India. They have paid plenty for him over the last 20 years.

Excellent idea! Upon googling this incident I found this wiki article.

Talwinder Singh Parmar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LoL, Indian police is what he deserves! )

[Knaur Amarsh]

Excellent idea! Upon googling this incident I found this wiki article.

Talwinder Singh Parmar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LoL, Indian police is what he deserves! )

Damn the human rights NGOs, that was the only way to get rid of terrorism in Punjab..and it was successful