Haneef's lawyers make public documents on revoking of visa

MELBOURNE: Lawyers of Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef on Tuesday made public documents, outlining government's decision to revoke his work visa, which allege that he was in regular contact with Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed, who were at the centre of UK's foiled car-bomb plot.

The 52-page file includes details of Haneef's relationship with the British terrorism suspects and also indicates that significant pieces of information have been withheld from Haneef's legal team for security reasons.

A spokesman for Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo said he decided to release the information to keep the public informed.

The information made public alleges Haneef kept in regular contact with Sabeel Ahmed and communicated with him as recently as June 26, three days before unexploded car bombs were found outside London nightclubs.

It also reveals Haneef told investigators that Kafeel, the alleged driver of the flaming jeep that crashed into Glasgow Airport, lent him $300 to sit medical exams in 2004, 'Sydney Morning Herald' reported.

The documents also indicated that refusing Haneef's visa might serve to deter others from committing similar offences.

The papers, 'the brisbanetimesonline service' said, mentioned the reasons for cancelling Haneef's visa as that he 'has, or has had, an association with someone else, or with a group or organisation, whom the Minister reasonably suspects has been, or is, involved in criminal conduct.'

Haneef is also being treated as a 'person of interest' by British counter terrorism police investigating both the Glasgow and London bombings.

Haneef, 27, is charged with 'recklessly' supporting a terrorist organisation, with the Australian Federal Police alleging he supported foiled plans to detonate car bombs in Britain.

A Brisbane magistrate on on Monday granted Haneef bail, but hours later Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews revoked his visa and said Haneef would be held in immigration detention until the charge was heard.

Andrews said he had taken action after giving 'primary consideration to the protection of the Australian community.'

"I considered that the criminal conduct in which Haneef's associates are suspected to have engaged in is particularly serious," the minister said in a signed statement.

"The Australian Government has a strong interest in deterring non-citizens from providing support to terrorist organisations/networks. I found that the expectations of the Australian community weighed in favour of visa cancellation," he said.

According to the Department of Immigration papers, Haneef, who also goes by the name of Ather, arrived in Australia with his wife on September 11, 2006 on a four-year business visa.

He has admitted to maintaining contact with the Ahmeds via internet chat sites and said he had left his mobile phone and SIM card behind in the UK to 'minimise excess baggage' and to allow Sabeel to take advantage of the phone company's 'extra minute deal'.