Posted on 07/27/2007 1:22:37 AM PDT by HAL9000
Gold Coast-based doctor Mohamed Haneef has been released from the Wolston Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane.He was driven out of the prison by immigration officials a short time ago.
It is unclear at this stage where he is being taken.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of recklessly providing support to a terrorist organisation against Dr Haneef this afternoon.
Late this afternoon, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said while he had not reinstated Dr Haneef's visa, the Gold Coast-based doctor would not be moved to a detention centre.
Mr Andrews says he is seeking advice on whether to reverse his decision to revoke Dr Haneef's visa, but in the meantime he is free to live at home.
"That means that he has to reside at an agreed place, it means he's free to actually move about in the community," Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews says he has made a residential determination, meaning that rather than being detained in immigration custody, Dr Haneef will be released into residential detention.
He says that means Dr Haneef can live in his unit on the Gold Coast, or elsewhere if a request to that effect is granted.
He said the Gold Coast-based doctor will face reporting conditions which may include having to report to the Immigration Department by phone once a day and in person every few days.
Mr Andrews says he has an obligation to act in the national interest and that is what he has done.
He says the solicitor-general will examine today's developments which saw the terrorism-related charge against Dr Haneef dropped and Mr Andrews will make a decision on Dr Haneef's future after that review.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says it is regrettable that charges were ever laid against Dr Haneef, but he will not be apologising to Dr Haneef.
"I certainly regret that in the course of this investigation the DPP formed a particular view and a later point in time reconsidered that view," he said.
A spokeswoman from the Gold Coast Hospital says Dr Haneef is still an employee of Queensland Health but remains suspended without pay because of his visa status.
Dr Haneef's legal team will now turn its attention to fighting his deportation.
His relative, Imran Siddiqui, says deportation would leave a black mark against Dr Haneef's name when he has done nothing wrong.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Dr Haneef's case will not affect Australia's diplomatic relationship with India.
"The Indians have the same sort of common law legal system that we have and they understand the procedures," he said.
"I've spoken with the Indian Foreign Minister, I've spoken with the Health Minister over the last week.
"They're interested in the case because they have consular responsibilities for Dr Haneef because he's an Indian."
Reaction
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the handling of Dr Haneef's case has damaged Australia's international reputation.
Senator Brown says the Greens will be pushing for a Senate inquiry.
"You can't move beyind thinking that the mistakes here come out of the politicans in the Howard Cabinet wanting to put fear into the Australian public as a means of changing votes," he said.
Prominent barrister Lex Lasry QC says he thinks bungles in the case against Dr Haneef were caused by political pressure in an election year.
"I think there were pressures probably on the offices of the DPP and to some extent on the AFP, probably resulting in converting whatever suspicion there was into a charge which was not supported by any evidence," he said.
"I think this case demonstrates a couple of things and one of them is that politicians ought to keep out of these cases and leave the police to do their work."
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the developments in the Haneef case show how important is it for people to speak up and raise concerns.
"But it also proves the system works, but it also does need people who've got the guts to stand up and make the point," he said.
"I think this is an indication that Australia is fair-minded and while this has been a torturous path, it vindicates the Australian way of life."
Ping
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