After offering a compensation package to Indian doctor Mohammad Haneef, who was wrongly detained for terror links, Australia on Thursday formally tendered a formal apology to Haneef.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), in a statement, said, ?The AFP acknowledges that it was mistaken and that Dr Haneef was innocent of the offence of which he was suspected.?
?The Commonwealth apologises and hopes that the compensation to be paid to Dr Haneef will mark the end of an unfortunate chapter and allow Dr Haneef to move forward with his life and career,? the statement added.
Haneef was detained on charges of supporting terror activities and having links with the failed Glasgow and London airport bombing attempts in 2007.
He is a cousin of Sabeel Ahmed — the main accused in the failed attack at the Glasgow International Airport.
Haneef has received ?substantial? compensation from the government for his wrongful detention.
The compensation seeks to account for the serious impact the detention had on Haneef?s life and career.
In Australia to seal the deal, Haneef had said on Tuesday that he was satisfied with the compensation and may return to work in the country.
“I am very pleased and happy with the resolution of this matter,” Haneef said.
He thanked his friends and relatives in Australia and India for the support during the phase three years back.
The doctor is accompanied by his wife Firdous and three-year-old daughter Haniyah.
“My wrongful arrest and detention in 2007 was a very traumatic experience and today’s settlement is a chance to end that part of my life and move on with my family,” he said.
Saying that he had enjoyed his work at the Gold Coast hospital in Queensland before his work permit was cancelled following the detention, Haneef said, ?It certainly will take some time to get on track to get out to Australia. I need to get my registration sorted and other things and I need to discuss this with my family.?
The doctor?s lawyers, refusing to divulge details of the compensation deal, said it was ?substantial?.