Haneef has no grudges, may even return to live in Australia
Sydney, Dec 24 : Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was wrongly dubbed as terror suspect, has said that he holds no grudges against Australia and may even return to live here despite a scathing report that exposes blunders by the country's top security officials and politicians.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland acknowledged on Tuesday that mistakes were made "at the highest level," and said he would not take action against any government officials, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He released the 310-page report by the former Supreme Court judge John Clarke, QC, who paints a picture of an uncoordinated security and police apparatus that was blind to assessments - particularly from ASIO - that the Indian-born doctor was not a threat.
A relieved Dr Haneef, speaking in Dubai where he is now working, said the report "gives me a clean sheet - that I was totally innocent."
While he said that he held no resentment for Australia, he did want an apology, but both the Rudd Government and the Coalition have refused to say sorry.
The report found that the Australian Federal Police commander who led the investigation, Ramzi Jabbour, had "lost objectivity" and the senior prosecutor, Clive Porritt, gave advice that was "obviously wrong and should never have been given."
The report - which follows an inquiry into the charging, release and deportation of Dr Haneef last year over alleged links to a botched terrorist attack at Glasgow Airport.
The report also includes damaging insights into the handling of the case by two senior Howard Government cabinet members, Kevin Andrews and Philip Ruddock. It describes the decision by Andrews, the then Immigration Minister, to revoke Dr Haneef's visa as "mystifying".
McClelland said he had "full confidence" in all agency heads, including the AFP Commissioner, Mick Keelty, and was not empowered to take disciplinary action against junior officers criticised in the report.
Dr Haneef, who lives with his wife and child in Dubai, was asked if he felt any resentment to Australia. "Not at all. It's not in my nature to hold anything like that against anyone . I don't have any special enmity for any of these agencies or any of these persons."
He said his lawyers would decide on whether to pursue a compensation claim.
"This report will go some way to restoring the reputation of me and my family that has been damaged right around Australia and throughout the world," Dr Haneef said. (ANI)