Dr. Haneef says ‘traumatic’ wrongful arrest in Oz marred his ‘family-career’ reputation

CANBERRA - Mohamed Haneef, the Indian-origin doctor who wrongly accused of terrorism and detained by Australian Federal Police in July 2007, has said that his arrest was traumatic and had hugely interrupted his career.

Dr Haneef has returned to Australia with his wife and three-year-daughter for compensation talks with the Commonwealth on Monday and Tuesday.

“This mediation process is all about some practical recognition of how this has affected my family, of me, my reputation internationally and my career,” the Courier Mail quoted Dr. Hanif, as saying.

“The ordeal has been terrible for me and my family and my career, which I was really enjoying at the Gold Coast Hospital,” he added.

In 2007, Dr Haneef was held in custody for 12 days before being charged with giving support to a terrorist organisation when his mobile phone SIM card was linked to a terrorist attack in the UK the same year.

Currently he practises in the United Arab Emirates, the paper said.

Dr. Haneef is hopeful that the outcome of the mediation “will draw a line under what has been a very regrettable incident for Australia’s long held reputation as a great place for skilled people from overseas to live and work.” (ANI)