Abdullah Almalki, right, Muayyed Nureddin, centre, and Ahmad El Maati were tortured in Syria, an inquiry concluded. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Agents of Canada's spy agency, who travelled to Egypt and corresponded with Egyptian officials, indirectly led to the mistreatment of a Toronto man by authorities there, according to previously classified information released on Tuesday.

The documents revealed that Canadian Security Intelligence Service officers had visited Egypt regarding the case of Ahmad El Maati, one of three Arab-Canadian men who were abused in Syrian prison cells. El Maati was tortured by Egyptian captors as well.

Former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci headed an inquiry into whether the detentions of El Maati, Abdullah Almalki and Muayyed Nureddin resulted from the actions of CSIS, the RCMP and the department of Foreign Affairs.

In the documents released Tuesday, Iacobucci wrote that CSIS's correspondence with Egyptian authorities, preparation of questions and travel to Egypt for the purpose of obtaining information about El Maati, "likely contributed indirectly" to his mistreatment in Egypt.

Iacobucci said while the evidence is not conclusive, it is reasonable to infer that El Maati "suffered mistreatment of some form as a consequence of the service's interaction with Egyptian authorities."

In his report released in October 2008, Iacobucci concluded that the three men were indeed tortured. He also said the actions of the RCMP and CSIS indirectly led to the torture of El Maati; "two actions of the RCMP" indirectly led to the torture of Almalki; and that certain instances of information sharing by CSIS and RCMP officials indirectly led to the torture of Nureddin.

Retired Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci makes a point after the release of his inquiry report in October 2008. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

A small portion of the 544-page public report was held back because the government argued it could compromise security. Those concerns have since been resolved, Iacobucci said, allowing him to release the additional facts.

In regards to El Maati, he said that CSIS's actions were "deficient." He said the agency did not take into account the potential consequences against El Maati or consider what effect its actions might have on Egyptian authorities in how they treated El Maati.

Iacobucci also criticized CSIS for not consulting with Foreign Affairs or the Consular Affairs Bureau about visiting Egypt.

El Maati, a Toronto truck driver, was arrested in 2001 while in Damascus to attend his wedding. He was later transferred to Egypt, where he spent 26 months in prison.

Nureddin was detained in Syria in December 2003 after crossing the border from Iraq. The Toronto geologist was held for 34 days and released. Almalki, an Ottawa communications engineer, was arrested in Syria in 2002 and held for 22 months.

The men are suing federal agencies for compensation, but the government has denied any responsibility despite Iacobucci's conclusions.

With files from The Canadian Press