Dashing his hopes of being released, Australian police on Saturday charged Mohammed Haneef with charges of supporting a terrorist organisation, 12 days after the Indian doctor was detained in connection with a failed UK terror plot.
Police had on Friday decided not to seek extension of the 27-year-old Gold Coast Hospital registrar's detention leading to hopes that he might be released.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said in Canberra that police will oppose bail. If found guilty Haneef faces a maximum of 15 years in jail.
"The allegation is that Haneef provided support to a terrorist group," TV Channels quoted Keelty as saying.
"The specific allegation regards recklessness rather than intention -- the allegation being that he was reckless about some of the support he provided to that (UK) group in particular the provision of his SIM card for the use of the group."
Charges against Haneef are baseless, says wife
The mammoth and difficult investigation involving about 300 policemen and lawyers was being supported by the London Metropolitan Police and the counter-terrorism command in Britain, he said.
A vast quantity of material, which can fill 3,600 "four-draw filing cabinets" has been seized by the police, he said.
Meanwhile, Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo spent the whole of Friday night at the federal police headquarters where his client has been interviewed.
He said his client is very upset by the news of him being charged and would apply for bail, according to ABC radio.
Keelty praised the public for making widespread use of the National Security Hotline during the course of the investigation. But he was critical of some aspects of media reports.
Keelty said the AFP has had more than 300 lawyers and police working on the investigation, who had to examine a considerable amount of material.
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said he is pleased with the way Australian Federal Police handled the case.
"My message to the Australian people is this: that when it comes to terrorism, terrorists and those who support terrorist organisations, this country must continue to adopt a hardline uncompromising stance -- there are no alternatives," Rudd said.
According to The Age Haneef was charged about 7 am (local time) after questioning that started at 4 am and continued in hour-long blocks.
Haneef was detained at Brisbane Airport on Monday last week as he was about to board a flight to India less than 24 hours after federal police were tipped off by their British counterparts about his alleged links to the attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow.
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