Haneef sues former Australian minister
July 1st, 2010 - 3:45 pm ICT by IANSMelbourne, July 1 (IANS) Mohamed Haneef, an Indian doctor who was falsely accused of aiding terrorists, has launched defamation proceedings against a former Australian minister.
Haneef’s lawyers said they lodged the suit against former immigration minister Kevin Andrews in the Supreme Court in Brisbane Thursday, Australian news agency AAP reported.
A claim has also been made for unlawful arrest and abuse of power against the government, the report said.
“The proceedings have been filed on behalf of Dr Haneef simply as a safeguard to protect his legal rights with regard to the time limits which apply to the various legal actions,” Rod Hodgson, Haneef’s lawyer, said in a statement.
The 30-year-old physician, a former Gold Coast registrar, was held in Australia for three weeks in July 2007 after being charged with supporting a terrorist organisation by “recklessly” giving his mobile phone SIM card to people planning bomb attacks in Britain.
Andrews was strongly criticised when he cancelled Haneef’s visa, just hours after a magistrate granted the doctor bail.
The charges against Haneef were eventually dropped and he returned to his family in Bangalore.
- Australia apologises to Indian-origin doctor - Dec 23, 2010
- Oz Govt. agrees to give Indian origin doctor substantial payout for wrong terror allegation - Dec 21, 2010
- Haneef to get 'substantial' compensation from Australia - Dec 21, 2010
- Australia is good place to live, says Haneef - Dec 18, 2010
- Haneef's lawyer silent on '$1m Oz Govt compensation' Indian media report claim - Dec 22, 2010
- Oz Govt. issues formal apology to Indian-origin Dr. Haneef over wrongful arrest - Dec 23, 2010
- Dr Haneef's lawyer Rod Hodgson receives justice award in Australia - Feb 18, 2011
- Minister who revoked Haneef's visa to face inquiry - Oct 14, 2008
- Australian government bars information on Haneef - Dec 01, 2009
- Haneef posed no threat, says Australian security agency - Jul 29, 2008
- Australian police drop terror probe against Haneef - Aug 29, 2008
- Indian-origin Dr. Mohamed Haneef returning back to Australia for compensation talks - Nov 22, 2010
- Indian-origin Dr. Mohamed Haneef eyeing huge payout from Oz govt. over 2007 ordeal - Dec 18, 2010
- 'Haneef's plight underlines need for public scrutiny of terror laws' - Sep 22, 2008
- Dr. Haneef says 'traumatic' wrongful arrest in Oz marred his 'family-career' reputation - Dec 17, 2010
Tags: aap, abuse of power, australian minister, australian news, bomb attacks, defamation, doctor who, dr haneef, former gold coast, hodgson, immigration minister, indian doctor, kevin andrews, legal actions, magistrate, mohamed, sim card, terrorist organisation, time limits, unlawful arrest