Eight months after Mohammad Haneef was exonerated of terror charges, Australia's police chief who received severe flak for handling of the probe and a top government lawyer have met their British counterparts to discuss the case.
Australian Federal Police chief Mick Keelty and Attorney-General Robert McClelland discussed ways to establish closer cooperation in terrorism investigations, anti-radicalisation programmes and the Haneef case, the AAP reported on Wednesday.
The meeting came close on the heels of an AFP statement that the probe into Haneef's case, that had cost the force a whopping US$ 7 million, was still continuing, with nine officers working full time. A judicial inquiry into the bungled investigation is likely to start this month.
The Bangalore doctor was arrested at the Brisbane airport last year in connection with the failed London and Glasgow car bombings, when he was on his way back to India.
He was held in custody for 12 days before being charged with recklessly supporting a terrorist group, after his SIM card was found with one of the bombers, but the charges were later dismissed.
After Haneef was granted bail, his work visa was revoked by former immigration minister Kevin Andrews, which led to his continued detention till he returned to India after a three-week ordeal. The case triggered a diplomatic dust up and threatened to sour relations between the two countries.
Australian courts later overturned Andrew's decision and the new government reinstated his work visa.
A spokesman for McClelland said the two sides also discussed coordination of national security and intelligence.
