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Haneef hopes Australia will compensate him

Melbourne: Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was exonerated of terror charges in connection with the failed United Kingdom car bombings, has expressed hope that the Australian government would compensate him for the damages caused to him as he was “wrongly” implicated in the case.

“I would be very grateful if they look into this aspect, some of the damages that authorities have done to me previously. I’m very hopeful of this,” he said when asked whether he would seek compensation.

In a legal victory for Dr. Haneef, the Federal Court on Friday last upheld a decision to reinstate his work visa.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans has said Dr. Haneef was entitled to return to work after the court verdict.

Dr. Haneef said the Federal Court’s decision had proved that his detention was wrong.

“The things that have come up later... that they had kept me in custody for no reason, that’s wrong,” he was quoted as saying by The Age newspaper.

“Then they charged me, there is no basis for that.”

On Monday, Dr. Haneef said he needed reassurance from authorities that he and his family would be safe in Australia before he considered returning to the country.

He said he wanted to continue his medical training there.

However, Dr. Haneef said his wife Firdous was reluctant to accompany him to Australia with their newborn baby because “of the trauma which I have undergone throughout this ordeal.”

His visa was cancelled by the former Howard government on character grounds. — PTI

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