Australia drops terror charges against Indian doctor
Afp, Sydney
Australia dropped charges against an Indian doctor accused of involvement in failed British car bombings and released him from custody yesterday, admitting mistakes were made rushing the case to court. But Australia's top police officer refused to apologise to Mohamed Haneef after the embarrassing backdown and the medic still faces possible deportation as he adjusts to house arrest after almost four weeks in custody. Red-faced officials said they withdrew the charge that Haneef "recklessly" supported the terror group behind attempted bombings in Britain last month after a review revealed mistakes in rushing the case to court. It also found there was not enough evidence to support a conviction. "On my view of the matter a mistake has been made," Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Damian Bugg told reporters. Bugg described the errors that led to the collapse of the case as "disappointing" and "embarrassing," adding "we're all human." The case against Haneef, who was arrested on July 2 as he attempted to leave Australia on a one-way ticket to India, has been dogged by controversy and labelled a bumbling "Keystone Cops" investigation by critics.
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Firdous Arshiya, the wife of Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef detained in Australia in connection with supporting terrorism, reacts as she answers a question from a media representative in front of her home in Bangalore yesterday. The wife of an Indian doctor accused in Australia of supporting terrorism said she was extremely pleased charges had been dropped and that the "truth has come out.". PHOTO: AFP |
