The Eastern High Court has begun hearing a case brought against the Danish state by an Afghan national who is seeking redress on allegations that he was abused by American personnel after having been caught and handed over by Danish soldiers.

It was in 2002 that Ghousoullah Tarin was detained by Danish soldiers in Afghanistan and handed over to American custody at Kandahar Airfield. He claims he was abused in the two to three days that he was held captive before being released. He is seeking DKK 50,000 in damages from the Danish state.

At the start of Tuesday’s session, the judge ruled new evidence brought by the defence as inadmissible. The evidence included new pictures alleged to be from Ghousoullah Tarin’s incarceration as well as a hand-drawn map of the facility in which he was kept.

The ruling sustained objections by the Junior Counsel for the Treasury, who is defending Denmark in the case, that the evidence had been presented too late. The judge said, however, that Ghousoullah Tarin could be allowed to draw a new map of the camp during tomorrow’s court hearing.

Tuesday’s hearing came a day after the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reported that a key witness in the case, an interpreter who was present during American interrogations, had disappeared. He is since reported to have been localised but refuses to testify.

The interpreter, who was in Danish service, is alleged to have told his superiors about abuse meted out by American personnel.

Ghousoullah Tarin is seeking redress from Denmark as it was Danish soldiers who arrested him and delivered him to US custody in Afghanistan.