A truck driver by trade,[2] Ouzghar claims that he was initially approached at his Montreal home in 1996, and asked to work as a spy for Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), but refused on religious grounds - leading to an attempt to "set him up" by the intelligence service.
[3][4] CSIS claims he maintained suspicious connections to Fateh Kamel, and agent Mike Pavlovic questioned him again on September 20, 2001.
[6] During the raid on his house, a videotape was seized which was later said to "sing the praises of jihad".
[7] Justice Susan Himel, who took up responsibility for Ouzghar's case when an earlier judge bowed out due to ill-health, made a ruling on January 12, 2007, stating that "...there was insufficient evidence to show Ouzghar was a member of a terrorist group.
"[1] However, the extradition battle with France continued, and in June 2009, Ouzghar was handed over to French authorities to begin his prison term for passport forgery.