Ontario judge grants bail to Canadian charged in 1980 Paris bombing

A Canadian man facing charges in France over the bombing of a Paris synagogue in 1980 was granted bail Tuesday by a judge in Ottawa.

Justice Robert Maranger of Ontario Superior Court ruled that Hassan Diab could be released while he awaits an extradition hearing.

However, Maranger imposed strict conditions on Diab, who has denied the charges against him.

Diab, 55, must wear an electronic bracelet and can leave his house only with one of five people, including his spouse, who pledged to guarantee his conduct and posted bonds totalling $290,000.

He's expected to be released Thursday.

The Lebanese-born Canadian citizen is wanted by French authorities on charges of murder, attempted murder and destruction of property for the bombing that killed four people and injured scores of others.

Diab, a part-time university sociology instructor, was arrested in November by the RCMP on a warrant issued by French authorities.

The Crown argued that Diab should remain in custody because he presented a flight risk.

But defence lawyer Don Bayne portrayed the French case against his client as weak and produced witnesses willing to testify to Diab's good character, post bail money and supervise him if released.

Diab is to be back in court April 9 for legal arguments and the date for his extradition hearing could be set then, said Suzanne Schriek, counsel with the federal attorney general's office.