Ex-Oz Minister Andrews' to reveal that Haneef evidence was withheld

Melbourne, Apr.30 : Former Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews is expected to tell an inquiry commission looking into the Dr. Mohamed Haneef case that Australian Federal Police did not inform him of evidence that debunked allegations against Dr Haneef's second-cousin Sabeel Ahmed.

Those allegations led to the subsequent terrorism charge against the Gold Coast doctor.

Andrews' testimony before retired New South Wales Supreme Court judge John Clarke will raise questions about whether the AFP ignored the vital information or passed it on to Australian investigators after British police discovered it.

Andrews' evidence to the inquiry will effectively leave AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty explaining the detention and charging of Dr Haneef, given that the case against the Indian-born doctor fell apart soon after his arrest on July 2 as he attempted to board a flight out of Brisbane for his native Bangalore.

The inquiry will open today with a directions hearing in Canberra. It is expected to hear submissions from Dr Haneef's lawyers calling on Attorney-General Robert McClelland to grant the Clarke commission powers to ensure documents are released and witnesses compelled to give evidence and face cross-examination.

Dr Haneef was charged with recklessly assisting a terrorist organisation in giving Sabeel a mobile phone SIM card in 2006, before he left to work in Australia.

But this month it emerged in London's Old Bailey court that British authorities had obtained an email sent to Sabeel from his brother Kafeel - who later died from burns in an attempted car bombing on Glasgow airport - which was accepted by the court as showing there was "no sign" of Sabeel "being an extremist or party to extremist views".

The email revealed Sabeel had no prior knowledge of Kafeel's terrorist activities.

ANI