From the beginning of Sampson's captivity, government officials, including Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, were skeptical of the torture accusations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said the allegations were raised with the Saudis.

"We always took the position that any Canadian being in a foreign prison has to be treated properly," Graham said. "What assurances we were given by Saudi authorities was that any torture was contrary to the Qur'an, and would be contrary to their religious beliefs, and therefore no torture would be used, but we still raised it with them."