Air India plotter granted bail

Vancouver: The only man ever convicted for the 1985 Air India bombings was granted bail yesterday while he awaits trial on perjury charges for allegedly lying to a court that he knew nothing about the plot.
Inderjit Singh Reyat, 55, will be allowed to walk out of prison for the first time in two decades after the ruling by Madam Justice Anne Rowles, of the B. C. Court of Appeal.
But the decision, details of which are subject to a publication ban, appeared to catch government officials and families of the victims by surprise. It allows.
Wally Oppal, the B. C. Attorney-General and a former judge, said it was rare for a bail decision to be overturned, but called the release conditions "as strict as they can be." Still he added: "We are disappointed with his release."
Vancouver resident Rene Saklikar, who lost her aunt and uncle in the bombing, said she was blindsided by the news.
"I am deeply uneasy, deeply unhappy and have many unanswered questions," Ms. Saklikar said. "Air India is a Canadian epic that will haunt our nation until justice is served."
She said Mr. Reyat, who was called "an unmitigated liar" by the Air India trial judge, has covered up for others involved in the deadly bombing for years. "Now he too will walk free into this beautiful summer sunshine. How does that happen?"
10/07/08 National Post, Canada

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Categories: Air India - International Jul 2008, Foreign Jul 2008, NACIL Jul 2008, Safety Jul 2008