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Arrest inquiry calls for overhaul of Australia terror laws: report
A special enquiry has called for an overhaul of Australian terrorism laws and found that an Indian doctor should never have been charged in connection with a British bomb plot, a report said.
A special enquiry has called for an overhaul of Australian terrorism laws and found that an Indian doctor should never have been charged in connection with a British bomb plot, a report said on Tuesday.
But the inquiry into the dramatic arrest, detention and subsequent summary deportation of doctor Mohamed Haneef in July last year cleared the then government of improper behaviour or political motivation in pursuing the case.
The Australian newspaper published details of retired judge John Clarke's much-anticipated report on the bungled case, commissioned by Attorney-General Robert McClelland in March, ahead of its expected release later on Tuesday.
Clarke found that there was insufficient evidence to charge Haneef in connection with a failed plot to bomb London and Glasgow in July 2007 and that the cancellation of his visa and deportation should have been deferred.
The paper said the inquiry recommended "sweeping changes" to Australia's anti-terrorism laws, including new controls over the Australian federal police and intelligence services in relation to immigration cases.
The Australian reported that the government would announce the creation of a special parliamentary committee on law enforcement to extend parliamentary oversight of intelligence agencies and federal police.
Haneef was arrested by federal police in July 2007 as he tried to leave Brisbane airport for India following a tip-off from British authorities and held for almost two weeks without charge.
He was accused of having links to the militants responsible for failed car bombings in London and Glasgow but the case against him quickly collapsed.
Peter Russo, Haneef's lawyer told Sky news on Tuesday he was surprised the former government of ex-prime minister John Howard and his former immigration minister Kevin Andrews had been cleared.
"I am still a little bit perplexed by that finding," said Russo following the publication of details of the report.
