SIM card allegations against Haneef could be untrue: Counsel

Barbados News.Net
Friday 20th July, 2007

Brisbane, July 20 : The defence counsel of Dr. Mohammed Haneef, the Indian born doctor detained in Brisbane for his suspected role in the June 29 and 30 foiled terror attacks in the UK, believes that the allegation of Haneef passing on his SIM card to his two cousins in Britain, could be untrue.

However, he says that he is still unsure about his premise.

According to a news.com.au report, the SIM card, which Haneef had allegedly given to his cousin Sabeel Ahmed, one of the key accused in the failed bomb plot, was found in his possession in Liverpool, and not in the jeep used to attack the Glasgow Airport, as previously claimed.

Meanwhile, ABC Radio quoted unnamed sources as saying that Haneef's SIM card was actually seized by Glasgow Police eight hours after the airport attack when Ahmed was arrested in Liverpool.

Earlier this week, a Brisbane court was told by the prosecution counsel that the SIM card belonging to Haneef, a Gold Coast-based doctor, was found in the jeep that crashed into the exterior wing of the Glasgow Airport .

"It is one piece in a fairly complex matter. So whether or not it is the ace in the pack, we don't know at this stage," Haneef's counsel Peter Russo said after reading the report.

Haneef has been charged for 'recklessly' giving away his SIM card to his cousin last year before heading for Queensland. Though Haneef got bail in the case, he was soon taken into custody by the Australian immigration officials for failing the 'character test'.

Russo, who would be meeting Haneef at the Wolston Correctional Centre here today said: "It is one of the many things that I was trying to piece together," adding that charges against his client will be proved incorrect only at the open court rather than pointing finger at someone.

Refusing to term the Australian Federal Police (AFP) enquiry as 'sloppy', he said, "I'm not trying to make excuses for them (AFP) and I know any information that is put before the court has to be accurate."

Haneef, 27, has been in custody since July 2, but was only charged on July 14, which led to global criticism of his 12-day detention without charge.

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