McClelland may expand Haneef case probe
Sydney Morning Herald
November 30, 2007
The investigation into the deportation of Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef may be expanded, incoming attorney-general Robert McClelland says.
Dr Haneef was arrested in July for recklessly supporting a terrorist organisation in relation to bombing attacks in London and at Glasgow International Airport.
The Gold Coast-based doctor spent four weeks behind bars in Brisbane, and was deported after his visa was cancelled.
The charge was later dropped after the Director of Public Prosecutions admitted it had bungled the case and there was insufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution.
The Labor party has previously promised a judicial inquiry into the affair, but Mr McClelland on Friday hinted at a broader inquiry.
Mr McClelland said he would wait for reports from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the ASIO security service and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before deciding if further scrutiny was necessary.
The AFP and DPP have blamed each other for the collapse of the case but Mr McClelland said there were broader issues to be examined.
“The Haneef case in some ways is an example of a breakdown in effective functioning,” he told The Weekend Australian.
“From afar, on any measure it looked untidy.”
