Asia-Pacific News
Australia to deport Indian doctor held over British bomb plot
Jul 22, 2007, 4:47 GMT
Sydney - An Indian doctor held in Australia over last month's failed car bombings in Britain is likely to be deported rather than face trial on a charge of supporting terrorism, news reports said Sunday.
The charge against Gold Coast doctor Mohammed Haneef is set to be dropped and the 27-year-old sent home to Bangalore because the case against him has collapsed, the Sun Herald newspaper said.
The inept handling of the case by police has damaged Prime Minister John Howard's government just months from a general election and frayed diplomatic relations with India, the Sydney paper said.
An unnamed government source was quoted as saying that with the deportation 'the story ends there and he can become someone else's problem.'
Haneef was arrested at Brisbane airport July 2 while waiting with a one-way ticket for a flight to India.
Police initially alleged he had supplied a mobile phone SIM card to the group behind the failed bombings and that it had been found in a blazing Jeep at Glasgow airport. They have now retracted that allegation, saying the SIM card was found in a house in Liverpool.
Haneef had been in contact with his cousins, Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed. The brothers are terrorism suspects now in custody in Britain. He left his SIM card with Sabeel when he left Britain last year.
Sabeel Ahmed has been charged with having information that could have prevented a terrorist attack. Kafeel Ahmed is in hospital with life-threatening burns sustained when the explosives-packed Jeep crashed into the concourse at Glasgow airport June 30.
Peter Russo, Haneef's lawyer, said he had on heard in press reports that police suspected his client of plotting to blow up a landmark building in the Gold Coast.
'A link to a tall building and a link to September 11 can only do one thing in the public arena and that's create fear,' Russo said.
Imran Siddiqui, who arrived at the weekend from Bangalore, told a gathering in Brisbane that his cousin was innocent. 'Back home we are all saying that Haneef is the victim of circumstance,' he said. 'We want him to come home with a clear charge.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Oh, I don't know, I rather admire John for giving the guy the boot! I wish we would do that in the US! If these radical's want to live a radical life, then by all means send them to the radical countries and leave the western democratic nations. We (the western world) don't need radical fundamentalists causing problems- if they don't conform, kick them out! Simple!
If he was in UK, he would have been free.
I feel sick when every one thinks being a muslim is being a terrorist.
S: 'Oh, I don't know, I rather admire John for giving the guy the boot! I wish we would do that in the US! If these radical's want to live a radical life, then by all means send them to the radical countries and leave the western democratic nations. We (the western world) don't need radical fundamentalists causing problems- if they don't conform, kick them out! Simple!'
How is this person a radical? Do you have any proof other than you hate muslims in principle? Is it better that non-religious radicals can payout the government through political donations? At least put some thought into saying why the person is so abhorrent to you other than their race or religion.
What if India arrested an Australian on suspicion of terrorist activity or some other charges?
The fact is John Howard was delighted when he thought he had a terrorist thing drop in his lap... It won him the last election.
Unlike the Tampa issue at the last election when the government edited footage to prove parents were throwing their children overboard from a boat, when in fact parents were passing children to safety from the boat which was sinking.
This is another fabrication by the John Howard, Liberal Party, about which will have truth revealed shortly after the elections in December.
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ColinJul 22nd, 2007 - 05:39:58
Sounds about as reasonable as G-bay! Either charge the man and give him his day in court or say that he's not guilty,passing the buck is shameful,but with Howard up 'W's' arse what else can be expected!
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