Frees Jailed Canuck - Canada- Bulgaria

TorontoSun.com - Canada- Bulgaria frees jailed Canuck
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EST each day and includes stories and columns from the day's print edition of the Sun. He said he did not know why because he had not been part of the court process. He spent more than two years in solitary confinement, during which he says he was beaten routinely. He was then deposited outside the facility "with about $12 in my pocket." The 56-year-old businessman, who sounded confused and worried, said he has been told he can't leave Bulgaria until he pays about $17,000 in a civil suit to a Bulgarian national. His lawyer, Dean Peroff, called the civil payment demand "a ransom." Canadian officials won't comment on when Kapoustin will be home. Kapoustin spent most of his time in maximum security until he was switched to minimum security recently and switched again to a high-security refugee facility. Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae said the government should create a senior public advocate position to act quickly when Canadians are in trouble abroad. On appeal, all charges but one were overturned, but he was sentenced to 17 years. Secretary of State Jason Kenney visited Sofia and the Council of Europe to press Kapoustin's case. Send a Letter to the EditorCANOE home | We welcome your feedback.Copyright � 2008, Canoe Inc.