By NNN-Bernama
Melbourne : Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef may seek compensation against the Australian government over bungled claims of terrorism, his lawyer Peter Russo says.
Russo told the Australian Associated Press that a law firm with expertise in compensation bids had been appointed to investigate seeking restitution for Dr Haneef over his treatment by authorities last year.
“We need somebody to be looking at it with expertise in the area,” Russo said, adding that the firm would be announced on Monday.
Dr Haneef, while a registrar at Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland, was arrested in July last year at Brisbane Airport after his mobile phone SIM card was linked to failed terrorist attacks in Britain.
He was held for 12 days before he was charged with recklessly giving support to a terrorist organisation.
Former immigration minister Kevin Andrews was strongly criticised when he cancelled Dr Haneef’s visa, ensuring his incarceration, just hours after a magistrate granted him bail on July 16.
The terrorism charge was later dropped as prosecutors admitted to bungling the case and conceded there was insufficient evidence.
The new federal Labor government this week appointed former NSW Supreme Court judge John Clarke QC to head the inquiry into the bungled terrorism case and report by Sept 30.
“There could be information that comes out of the inquiry which either assists the claim or puts it to bed once and for all,” Russo said.
Dr Haneef had suffered enormously since the allegations were made against him, he said.
“How do you restore his reputation after what has been going on? “He’s lost his job and has to start again.”