AFP angry over release of transcript of Haneef's interview

Melbourne, 22 Aug (UNI) The Australian Federal Police (AFP) today reacted sharply to news that the lawyers of Mohammed Haneef, the Indian doctor and cleared suspect in the failed UK bomb plot, have released the second transcript of their interview with him.

The Indian doctor was questioned by the AFP for 24 hours on 13 July over the failed UK bomb plot in which two of his cousins are alleged to be involved.

Dr Haneef was released when the Australian Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charge against him. He immediately flew to his home city Bangalore after being allowed by the Australian authorities.

According to Dr Haneef's legal team, the decision to release the transcript was taken to counter Liberal government's efforts to ''slander his (Dr Mohammed Haneef) name by innuendo and selective release'' of information.

The transcript had been released on the client's request. The 378-page transcript of an interview with police in Brisbane also proved that the Indian doctor had ''nothing to hide'', said Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo.

But, the transcript release has angered the AFP which has been swift to condemn the lawyers labeling the release as unprofessional and inappropriate.

The AFP has also issued a formal complaint about the leaking of the transcript of the second interview with Mohammed Haneef whose Australian visa was restored by the Federal Court in Brisbane yesterday.

''In cases where a transcript of an interview is produced by the AFP, it is provided to defence lawyers for the purpose of legal representation in court proceedings,'' saids an AFP press release.

''The continuing attempts by Dr Haneef's defence team to use the media to run their case is both unprofessional and inappropriate and the AFP has raised this aspect with the Queensland Legal Services Commission,'' the release added.

UNI