Briton alleges MI5 collusion in torture

LONDON, May 27 (UPI) -- British intelligence services colluded in the torture of a terrorism suspect at the hands of Bangladeshi interrogators, a lawsuit alleges.

The man, Jamil Rahman, has named Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and MI5 as defendants in claims he was assaulted, unlawfully arrested, falsely imprisoned and tortured in Bangladesh with the acquiescence of the British government, The Guardian reported Wednesday.

In the suit, Rahman claims he was repeatedly beaten over a two-year period by Bangladeshi intelligence officers. He says a pair of MI5 agents present during his ordeal would leave the room whenever the Bangladeshis started beating him and would return when the violence had ended, the newspaper said.

Rahman's lawyers said they have evidence supporting the claims, including eyewitnesses, medical evidence and a telephone number he says was used by one of the alleged MI5 officers, The Guardian reported.

The lawyers say Rahman has never been charged with any terrorism-related crimes and has not been questioned by police since his return to Britain.