CWDPP head orders review of Haneef's case

Melbourne, July 26: Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions here has ordered a review of the case of Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef, a suspect in the failed UK terror attacks, triggering speculation in the media that he could be released.

''It's comforting that someone is going to look at the material and, hopefully, that will put me in a stronger position either to confirm what my belief is about the case or disprove my belief about the case,'' Haneef's advocate Peter Russo said when informed about the review.

Haneef was arrested on July 2 at Brisbane airport as a suspect.

DPP has taken this what is being labelled as a highly unusual and extraordinary step at a stage when the prosecution case against the Indian doctor has become a farce.

Damian Bugg, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, would be conducting the review himself to disallow any further chance of error in the case which has been hogging the headlines ever since the Indian doctor was arrested while trying to board a flight to India.

The government-appointed lawyer would make a decision based on the material presented to the Brisbane Magistrate, who granted bail to Mohamed Haneef on July 14.

He would also have access to the secret material that has not been provided to Haneef's lawyers.

Haneef would be free to leave Australia if given a clean chit by the DPP. In case he fails to make arrangements to leave Australia voluntarily, the Indian doctor would be forcibly deported.

''Even though my client is desirous of resuming his occupation at the Gold Coast hospital as a doctor, because he's been in isolation for so long, I think he'd be content to go home to be with his wife and child,'' Mr Russo told the Canberra Times.

UNI