Australian Federal Police has become an international "laughing stock" over its handling of Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef's case, the Greens party on Monday said, blaming the federal government for the situation.
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle charged that the Howard government, which is in election mode, has placed incredible political pressure on the AFP to tarnish Haneef's reputation with leaks of information related to his case.
"And it has done this to justify the zealous application of its new hardline anti-terrorism laws to the Indian doctor," it charged.
"There was tremendous pressure on the government to make sure they got somewhere with this case after holding him for 12 days," Senator Nettle said adding, "the federal police have been put under incredible pressure by the government to come up with a charge and a case against this man."
"And the pressure they have been under has seen them skip over the facts and make so many mistakes in relation to this case," Nettle said.
Senator Nettle said British police were now unfortunately, but understandably, laughing at "the sloppy AFP."
She said Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' decision to cancel Haneef's working visa must be reviewed.
"The way in which this has been so bungled by the government and the federal police is really making people question the federal government's credibility on national security issues," she said in a statement issued on Monday.
Senator Nettle said the leaks of Haneef's AFP record of an interview and a claim he was involved in a plan to blow up a Gold Coast building, which the AFP says is untrue, must be investigated.
Revelations of more alleged bungles were aired on Monday.
The Australian newspaper reported that police had written the names of UK terror suspects in Dr Haneef's diary, only to then ask the 27-year-old hospital registrar during an interview if the handwriting was his.
"Are the officers involved in writing in Haneef's diary still investigating the case?" Senator Nettle asked.
"What does (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty have to say about federal police constructing evidence in this way?" Nettle added.
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