Man cleared in terror plot seeks apology

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- An Indian doctor wants an apology and compensation from the Australian government after he was cleared of involvement in a terrorist plot, his lawyer said.

Bernard Murphy, a lawyer for Mohamed Haneef, said his client is seeking "significant" compensation after he was arrested in July 2007 and was held for about three weeks before authorities dropped charges against him related to failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow, Scotland, the Brisbane Herald Sun reported Wednesday.

A subsequent inquiry found there was no evidence linking Haneef to the plot. Murphy said the compensation claim is based on malicious prosecution, false imprisonment and defamation.

"He's entitled to damages for the loss of reputation, he's entitled to damages for the damage to his career, and he's entitled to damages for the dislocation he has suffered," Murphy said.

However, Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland said that while the government has admitted that mistakes were made during the investigation, and apology is unlikely because of its potential effect on the legal process.

"Representing the interest of the Commonwealth and the taxpayers of Australia, it's not appropriate for me to make any admissions," McClelland said Tuesday.