Transcript of second police interview with Haneef released

A transcript of second police interview with Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneefs has been released by his lawyers.

Melbourne, Aug 22 : A transcript of second police interview with Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneef's has been released by his lawyers.

Dr Haneef's lawyers said that they have released the material to counter attempts by the Howard Government and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to "slander his name by innuendo and selective release'' of information.

The transcript showed his client had arranged leave from the Gold Coast Hospital before his arrest at Brisbane airport, Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, said.

Russo said that Haneef had also attempted to contact British Police so that he could explain his position in relation to a SIM card loaned to his cousin Sabeel.

Australia's Federal Court on Tuesday ordered the government to return Dr Haneef's work visa, which was cancelled on character grounds last month.

Quashing Andrews' decision to cancel Haneef's visa, Justice Spender issued an injunction restraining Andrews from acting upon the cancellation of the visa, and ordered he pay Haneef's costs.

Justice Spender said that contrary to some media reports, which he described as "scandalous", the case was not a contest between the judiciary and the Howard Government.

He further observed that remarks making claims of tension between judges and the Federal Government was "ignorant and grossly misinformed."

The AFP took Dr Haneef into custody on July 2 as he attempted to leave Brisbane on a one-way ticket to India, news.com.au reported.

The case against the Indian doctor collapsed spectacularly as embarrassed federal authorities admitted bungling in the investigation.

Haneef, 27, was charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation by giving his SIM card to a relative later accused of being linked to a failed plot to bomb central London and Glasgow Airport.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has admitted that crucial evidence against Dr Haneef, the mobile phone SIM card found at the scene of a British car bombing, was wrong.

ANI