Freed Indian doctor to leave Australia

Source: Reuters

Freed Indian doctor to leave Australia
28 Jul 2007 08:46:23 GMT

By Fayen Wong

SYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - An Indian doctor freed from
jail after Australia dropped terrorism charges against him
will be leaving Australia on Saturday after receiving the
go-ahead from immigration officials, his lawyer said.

Mohamed Haneef was released from prison on Friday after
Australian authorities abandoned the case against him,
saying there was a lack of evidence to prove his
connection with a failed car bomb plot in Britain.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said Haneef, 27, would
be allowed to leave Australia, but the government would not
reinstate his work visa.

-snip-

But his return home would not end the fight to clear his
name, Keim said, adding that the legal team had submitted a
court application to appeal against the immigration office's
decision to revoke Haneef's work visa.

"With the visa cancelled, it could have serious downstream
effects on his work and travel. It is of paramount interest
for Haneef to have an unblemished record," he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD269579.htm

he's being "allowed to leave"....

and not deported!

Reminds of the bbc coverage explaining that he was not being extradited due to "red tape" in India.


This guy is bloody lucky. If he had been in the UK he'd be in Belmarsh, no questions asked.

what a debacle and a disgrace for everyone involved. Mick Keelty-AFP Commissioner-Kevin Andrews-Immigration Minister-John Howard-Prime Minister and the odious Phillp Ruddock-the Attorney General who has debased the rule of law in Australia.

All their heads should roll as each gutless wonder begins to blame the other for this mess.

And what happened to the so-called "UK terrorism expert" who flew into Brisbane with great fanfare-is this also an example of how the British police treat suspects as well.. ( need I mention the unfortunate innocent Brazillian blasted to death by nine bullets on a tube train in London-for which not one single person has been charged for ?).

A pox on George Bush-John Howard-Tony Blair and all you demons who have got the world into this mess..I hope you rot in hell when your time comes.

Press Trust of India

MELBOURNE, July 28: ~snip~

The Gold Coast-based doctor was released from a Brisbane jail yesterday after a charge against him of providing support to a terrorist organisation was dropped.

Australian Immigration minister Mr Kevin Andrews, who cancelled Dr Haneef’s work visa on 16 July when a Brisbane magistrate granted the doctor bail, said the visa remained cancelled. He said Dr Haneef’s lawyers had contacted the Immigration Department asking if the doctor could leave Australia as soon as possible. “After taking advice, including from the Australian Federal Police, I have indicated that the Commonwealth has no objection to Dr Haneef leaving Australia. Indeed, the effect of the visa cancellation is that he should remove himself, he should depart Australia in any event,” he said. Mr Andrews said Dr Haneef’s Indian passport would be given back to him, although his visa remained cancelled.

Mr Russo said the Indian doctor had vowed to keep fighting to have his Australian immigration work visa reinstated.He said Dr Haneef wanted to thank Australians who had supported him throughout his detention and added that the doctor’s legal team was disappointed their client was prevented from publicly thanking Australians who supported him through his detention. Reports here said that immigration authorities made it a condition of facilitating his return to India that he not take part in news media photo or interview opportunities. ~snip~

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=164263