Two senators who recently visited a New Brunswick man held in a Lebanese prison since March say his health is quickly deteriorating and could only get worse unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper steps in to take up his case directly.
Senators Pierrette Ringuette and Mac Harb said potato farmer Henk Tepper has lost 40 lbs. wasting away in a stone-walled dingy cell since he was arrested for allegedly exporting rotten potatoes to Algeria in 2007.
Tepper's lawer, Jim Mockler, travelled with the two Canadian senators to Lebanon to rally for the farmer to be brought home. Mockler said the Lebanese justice minister told him Tepper could be released if a letter was issued by the federal government.