OTTAWA, 24 September 2003 — Saudi Arabia said yesterday it had rejected Ottawa’s demand for an investigation into the case of a Canadian man who alleged he was regularly tortured during the 2-1/2 years he spent in a Riyadh jail.
William Sampson — who was sentenced to death on a charge of involvement in a fatal bombing — said he was punched, kicked, hung upside down and beaten until he made a confession. He was released last month after receiving a royal pardon.
Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al-Husseini said in a statement that he had delivered a diplomatic note to Canada’s Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissing the call for a probe.
“The request to conduct an open investigation into Mr. Sampson’s allegations of torture goes against all laws and regulations, both within the Kingdom and internationally,” Al-Husseini said.
He said Riyadh’s desire for good ties with Ottawa was behind the pardon granted to Sampson, who he described as being guilty of “killing another human being who had the full right to live safe and secure with his family”.
