Haneef's lawyer cleared of unprofessional conduct

Melbourne, Feb 1 : A lawyer for Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was wrongly implicated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), has been cleared of charges that he acted unprofessionally by leaking a police transcript to the media.

Barrister Stephen Keim SC has admitted that he had leaked the 142-page transcript to The Australian newspaper in July last year after his client, Dr Haneef, was charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation. A spokeswoman for Keim has said that the Legal Services Commission (LSC) of Australia had decided not to pursue its inquiry.

The commission found Keim had not acted unprofessionally; NEWS.com.au quoted her, as saying.

In the fourth week of January, Dr Haneef had said that he was tired of being referred to as a "former terror suspect", and appealed to the Australian media to stop using the description.

Dr Haneef was arrested on July 2 last year and was later charged with supporting a terrorism organisation after his SIM card was linked to the failed Glasgow Airport bombings in UK last year.

The charges were dropped a fortnight later but then Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews had already cancelled Dr Haneef's work visa, forcing him to return to his home in Bangalore.

The full bench of the Federal Court in December had upheld a judge's earlier decision to reinstate his work visa, clearing the way for Dr Haneef to return to Australia.

Dr Haneef, who worked as a registrar at the Gold Coast Hospital, has returned to India to be with his family, but wants to return to Australia to complete his training.

ANI