'New evidence' backs Hicks's torture claim

Lawyers for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks say they have uncovered evidence supporting claims that the South Australian may have been the subject of organised torture by American troops.

In an interview with ABC TV's Four Corners program, Hicks's father Terry has detailed allegations of physical and sexual abuse of his son by American soldiers.

"He said he had a bag over his head and he said, 'Oh look, I know their accents - they're definitely American' - some pretty horrific things that were done to him," he said.

David Hicks also told his father he was given injections by the Americans and then anally penetrated with various objects.

Another detainee says David Hicks told him of being flown by helicopter off a warship to an undisclosed location where he was spat on and beaten before being brought back to the ship.

Former detainee Martin Munbanga says he spoke to Hicks about the allegations.

"He was basically taken ... by helicopter, to a place. They [were] blindfolded and there they [were] beaten and spat upon and he [Hicks] was abused and assaulted," he said.

Terry Hicks believes his son was flown to a location where United Nations conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners would not apply.

Lawyers for Hicks say they have found some evidence that the helicopter flight did take place.

They claim it is highly unlikely a detainee would have been moved without official authorisation.

David Hicks, originally from Adelaide, has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2002.