Australian police might have framed Indian doctor

Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 19th August, 2008

Lawyers for Indian doctor,Mohamed Haneef, who was arrested in Australia on terrorism charges, which were later dropped, say he has been vindicated in a new enquiry which has criticised the methods of the Australian Federal Police.

In its submission to the inquiry into the handling of the case, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions says his office was not given enough information by the AFP to correctly decide the strength of the case against Dr Haneef.

The director said one of its staff also felt extreme pressure to assure police they could charge Dr Haneef.

The CDPP now says prosecutors were wrong to advise the AFP that they could charge Dr Haneef, but say their decision was based on assurances that gaps in the evidence would be filled by AFP investigators.

Dr Haneef's lawyer, Rod Hodgson, says it is a serious matter that the AFP failed to observe the rules.

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