Australian Police admits main evidence against Haneef was wrong

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

Melbourne, July 21 : The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have admitted the crucial evidence against Indian born doctor Dr Mohammed Haneef, that his mobile phone SIM card was found at the scene of a British car bombing, was wrong.

The Fairfax newspapers quoted AFP sources as saying that it had not been confirmed that the SIM card was found at the scene of the failed Glasgow Airport attack, as prosecutors alleged during the Haneef's bail hearing.

The revelation has cast fresh doubts over police handling of the Haneef case, news.com.au reported.

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has said the latest revelations showed that the Howard government's terror laws were open to political abuse.

"The Greens opposed the terror laws when they were introduced because we were concerned that they were so broad that they could be used politically,'' Senator Nettle said.

The AFP were under "immense pressure'' from the Howard government to produce charges in the case, leading them to make "numerous mistakes'', she said.

"People are looking at the case of Dr Haneef and saying 'that could have been me', people have lent their SIM cards to others...no wonder people in the community are nervous,'' she added.

The Greens also called on immigration minister Kevin Andrews to review his eleventh-hour decision to revoke Haneef's visa on character grounds.

"We now know he's used incorrect information in making the decision to cancel Dr Haneef's visa and that is why he needs to review that decision,'' she said.

Earlier this week, a Brisbane court was told by the prosecution counsel that the SIM card belonging to Haneef, a Gold Coast-based doctor, was found in the jeep that crashed into the exterior wing of the Glasgow Airport.

"It is one piece in a fairly complex matter. So whether or not it is the ace in the pack, we don't know at this stage," Haneef's counsel Peter Russo said after reading the report.

Criticism has also come from Peter Faris QC, who has backed the government's new anti-terror laws, and Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, who has expressed concern.

The SIM card, the smart card in mobile phones, was found in the possession of one of Dr Haneef's cousins, Sabeel Ahmed, in Liverpool, hundreds of kilometres away from the failed Glasgow bombing.

No official attempt has been made to correct the public record, despite police sources telling Fairfax they had been aware of the error for some time.

Haneef, 27, has been in custody since July 2, but was only charged on July 14, which led to global criticism of his 12-day detention without charge.

ANI