8216;Canadian spy agency slowed Kanishka probe8217;

8220;It is requested that no investigative action be taken by the RCMP 8216;O8217; Division based on the information contained in this surveillance report without prior consultation with Toronto Region,8221; Canadian spy agency said in a note to the police.

CSIS had made contact in 1987 with a key witness, dubbed Ms E, who had incriminating evidence about suspect Ajaib Singh Bagri, which was not provided fully to the RCMP until 1990, he submitted before the commission.

RCMP were eager to approach the woman as soon as it learned about her evidence, but still had to wait for the spy agency8217;s approval before doing so.

8220;The flow of information in my mind was still something that was slow and bureaucratic,8221; Dicks, retired since 2002, said.

When the police sought information from CSIS about the movements of another key suspect, Ripudaman Singh Malik, in the spring of 1987, the agency only offered 8220;snippets8221; of its surveillance report, Dicks said.