THE verdict on the arrest of Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef on suspicion of terrorism has found that he should not have been charged but that his detention and deportation were not politically motivated.
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The Howard government immigration minister Kevin Andrews has been cleared of improper conduct in cancelling Dr Haneef's visa in a report to be delivered today.
The Age reported that Mr Andrews most likely cancelled Dr Haneef's visa because he had grave suspicions as a result of the material put before him and he genuinely believed the community wanted him to act decisively. The report, by the former NSW Supreme Court Judge John Clarke, says: "I found no evidence to suggest that any political pressure or influence was brought to bear on Mr Andrews or that he made his decision to cancel Dr Haneef's visa in order to achieve some actual or perceived political advantage or in the interest of expediency."
Criticism was levelled at a key officer from the Australian Federal Police for getting too close to the case, but the AFP appears to have emerged lightly.
The report is believed to carry a series of recommendations for the AFP, anti-terrorism laws and intelligence agencies. The Gold Coast doctor was arrested as he went to fly to India in July 2007 after police connected him with failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow. He was charged with aiding a terrorist cell and held for three weeks.
Dr Haneef was never found to have been connected with the attempted British attacks and the charges against him were later dropped. The Clarke report found the decisions to detain him, to withdraw his visa, and to deport him were flawed. It was delayed until the conclusion last week of a London trial.
