Haneef may seek compensation from Oz Govt: Lawyers

Melbourne, Dec 21: Lawyers for Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneef have said that he is likely to seek compensation from the Australian Government for falsely charging him under terror laws, after he won his latest court battle to return and work in Australia.

Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo said that a decision was yet to be made about whether the Indian doctor would seek compensation. His main aim was to clear his name, said Russo. The counsel representing Immigration Minister Chris Evans has applied for the judge's decision to be stayed pending a possible appeal to the High Court. Dr Haneef's barrister, Stephen Keim SC, opposed the application and said there was no justification for it, as his client's life should not be disrupted further.

Russo said he was frustrated that Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans had indicated he might want to consider the court's decision for 28 days before responding. "I find that difficult to understand why ... he has not turned his mind to a position in relation to Haneef's visa because ... the ultimate decision rests with the minister," he said.

Dr Haneef, a registrar at the Gold Coast Hospital, was arrested and charged in July in connection with the Glasgow terror attacks and later deported by the Howard Government, despite the charges being dropped for lack of evidence.

Dr Haneef was arrested at Brisbane Airport on July 2, shortly after the failed UK terrorist plot, but a charge of providing support to terrorism was dropped later. The charges were dropped less than two weeks later after Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions announced there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction.

Dr Haneef has spent most of the past five months at his home in Bangalore, but Russo has repeatedly said that he wants to return to work on the Gold Coast. Dr Haneef is presently in Mecca in Saudi Arabia on the annual pilgrimage, news.com.au reported.

ANI
>