Canadian woman denies role in Mexico Gadhafi plot

A Canadian woman under house arrest in Mexico flatly denies she had anything to do with a plot to hide and relocate one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons.

Cynthia Vanier of Mount Forest, Ont., has been under house arrest in Mexico since early November, when she and three others were accused of plotting to smuggle al-Saadi Gadhafi and his family from Niger to Mexico's Pacific coast.

Mexico's Interior Minister Alejandro Poire said that investigators began tracking several people and looking into bank accounts and land purchases after receiving a tip in early September

Vanier, a Canadian consultant and trained mediator, was arrested on Nov. 10. Three others, including two Mexican citizens living in the U.S. and a Danish citizen, were arrested the next day.

Poire accuses Vanier of being the leader of the alleged plot, saying she had direct contact with the Gadhafi family.

Vanier's Toronto-based lawyer Paul Copeland said that Vanier denies having any role in the alleged plot. He said she owns a house in Mexico and was in the country on vacation.

"She made one fact-finding mission to Libya for SCN-Lavalin. She did not do anything to assist al-Saadi Gadhafi flee Libya or to try to help him get to Mexico," Copeland told CBC News.

Copeland said Vanier was hired by SNC Lavalin, an engineering and construction company, to travel to Libya in the summer to prepare a report on the security situation there.

He wouldn't comment further on the case as he awaits word from Mexico from Vanier's husband and lawyers in that country, on what specifically Mexican authorities are alleging.

She is currently being detained under Mexico's "preventative arrest" laws, accused of involvement in a human smuggling and money laundering plot. However, she faces no charges.

It is not clear what specific charges Vanier could face or what laws or international sanctions she might have broken if she was assisting the son of the dead dictator.

Earlier this year, the UN passed resolutions freezing the assets of Moammar Gadhafi and many family members and associates. In September, Interpol issued a red notice for Saadi Gadhafi's arrest. It came shortly after he fled Libya for nearby Niger.

A spokeswoman for Diana Ablonczy, the minister of state for foreign affairs (Americas and consular services), said the ministry is "aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in Mexico City."

"Canadian consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are closely monitoring the situation. Canadian consular officials in Mexico City and in Ottawa are providing consular assistance as required," the spokesperson said.

The Canadian government offered no further comment, citing privacy reasons.

Vanier lists herself on her website as a specialist in mediation and dispute resolution, and as being part of the group Mediators Beyond Borders.

Moammar Gadhafi died in October after being captured by members of the Libyan National Liberation Army near his home town of Sirte. Some human rights groups believe he was executed.