Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Raoul Boulakia is taking his demands that the government immediately turn over Mohamud's passport and case file to Federal Court while officials in Ottawa remain vague on the ID's whereabouts.
The demand is the latest twist in the debacle that has become Mohamud's life as her government first branded her an impostor, then consented to test her DNA and eventually repatriated her to Canada.
Somali-born Mohamud was stranded in Nairobi for almost three months after authorities said her lips did not match her four-year-old passport photo. Canadian consular officials voided her passport and turned her case over to Kenya for prosecution.
Boulakia said he wants to get his hands on Mohamud's passport to see if officials were justified in doubting her identity. The passport had been loaned to Kenyan authorities, but ought to be back in Canadian hands by now, he said.
"I want that passport back."
The department of foreign affairs was tight-lipped on the matter, deferring inquiries to Passport Canada. Passport Canada spokesman Sebastien Bois said anyone who has their passport seized for prosecution has to apply for a new one.
Bois said when Passport Canada is advised a passport is out of its control, it is cancelled. Passports are returned to Passport Canada or to the nearest Canadian government office. "The Canadian passport remains at all times the property of the government of Canada."
Source: Toronto Sun, August 19, 2009