The Hindu : National : “Haneef was a quiet resident”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 09, 2007
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National

“Haneef was a quiet resident”

Mohammed Haneef

MELBOURNE: When the Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef moved into his new apartment in Australia in September, his meagre possessions were packed in plastic bags. For weeks, the 27-year-old and his wife Firdous slept on the floor until a bed and couch were delivered, the Courier Mail reported on Sunday.

There was no television in the Gold Coast apartment and one of the unit’s two rooms seemed to be set aside for prayers, with religious posters in both Arabic and English on the walls. Yet, he always paid his rent on time and was polite to the point of being meek, the newspaper quoted the apartment block’s managers, Steve and Meryl Boscher.

Dr. Haneef paid 250 Australian dollars a week for the unit that was just a short walk from the Gold Coast Hospital, his workplace.

When he had applied for the accommodation, he had no photo identification but was carrying his Queensland Health employment contract, the Boschers said.

The unit managers were satisfied about his bonafides. They could not recall his exact pay package, but said it was well in excess of the average salary of most of the residents. Dr. Haneef also paid four weeks’ bond and two weeks’ rent in advance. — PTI

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