Dec 25 2010
Australia has apologized to Indian doctor Mohammad Haneef for wrongly detaining him on terror charges three years back, saying it was a mistake and hoped that the compensation paid to him will mark the end of an “unfortunate chapter”.
“The Australian Federal Police acknowledges that it was mistaken and that Dr Haneef was innocent of the offence of which he was suspected,” the Australian government said in a public apology. “The Commonwealth apologizes and hopes that the compensation to be paid to Dr Haneef will mark the end of an unfortunate chapter and allow Dr Haneef to move forward with his life and career,” it said, according to AAP report.
The Indian doctor, who was working at the Gold Coast Hospital since September 2006, was arrested on July 2, 2007 from the Brisbane airport.
He was charged with recklessly giving support to a terrorist organisation when his mobile phone SIM card, which he had left with his cousin before coming to Australia from the UK, was linked to the attack. His 12-day detention was the longest without charge in recent Australian history.