Australia's Leading criminal lawyer has said the Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef stands a favourable chance to win his case against the Australian government.
"Given the incompetence so far, there is every chance Haneef will win his case," Peter Faris told herald Sun daily adding the Government was struggling to confine the damage by blaming the Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth DPP's office for their incompetent investigation and prosecution.
The case for restoration of Haneef's work visa will be heard in the Federal Court which may give some indication of the strength of the alleged national security evidence that Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews relied on to revoke the visa, he said.
He said Haneef now had an excellent claim for malicious prosecution and similar actions for damages arising out of improper criminal charges being laid against him, resulting in him being jailed for nearly a month.
"With Haneef's reputation destroyed and that may be that his career will never recover, I would not be surprised to see him receive half a million dollars or more in damages. If he succeeds in challenging the visa revocation, the damages will be greater, Faris said.
While Australian Prime Minister John Howard has persuaded the people that they can be confident about his Government that terror issues will be handled better than opposition Labour, a loss here would destroy that confidence, Faris said.
{{/usCountry}}While Australian Prime Minister John Howard has persuaded the people that they can be confident about his Government that terror issues will be handled better than opposition Labour, a loss here would destroy that confidence, Faris said.
{{/usCountry}}If Andrews loses in the Federal Court, he should resign. But if he wins it is possible Howard will suffer little electoral damage, he commented. MORE