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FREDERICTON — Documents filed with the Federal Court show the former Harper government was concerned about the legal and political fallout from how it dealt with a New Brunswick potato farmer jailed for more than a year in Lebanon.

Henk Tepper languished in a Beirut jail cell in 2011 and 2012 on allegations he tried to export diseased potatoes to Algeria.

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In 2013 he launched a lawsuit against the Canadian government, saying the government didn’t do enough to try to secure his freedom, and therefore his right to life, liberty and security of person were violated.

The lawsuit, which seeks $16.5 million in damages, also says the RCMP provided private information including the annual sales of Tepper’s farm and value of his home to Algerian authorities in contravention of the Privacy Act.

In a 13-page statement of defence, the government said it provided Tepper with diplomatic help and made “numerous and frequent diplomatic interventions” on his behalf.