[NYTr] Aussie Lawyer predicts rapid collapse of case against Haneef

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

sent by Dave Muller (southnews) 

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AAP - Jul 26, 2007


Lawyer predicts Haneef case collapse

A PROMINENT criminal lawyer predicts the charge against accused 
terrorism supporter Mohamed Haneef will be dropped as early as tomorrow.

Peter Faris QC, a former chairman of the National Crime Authority, said 
today the decision of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions 
Damian Bugg to review the evidence against the Indian-born doctor 
suggested the case had collapsed.

"This is the end of the case against Mr Haneef," Mr Faris said on ABC 
television.

"I have no doubt that the reasons that Bugg has intervened is to find a 
way out of the impasse that the DPP finds itself in which is, to put it 
bluntly, they have no case.

"I would be fairly confident ... that the charges will be dropped 
probably tomorrow, if not tomorrow, Monday."

Dr Haneef is charged with recklessly providing support to a terrorist 
organisation by giving a SIM card to a relative later linked to the 
failed plot to bomb targets in the UK.

Mr Faris said the case had been plagued by repeated bungles by 
Australian Federal Police investigators and the inability of the 
commonwealth DPP to prosecute terrorism cases.

He called for Mr Bugg and AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty to resign.

"Both organisations have failed the Australian public very badly," Mr 
Faris said.

"I think heads should roll and I think it's really got to be Keelty ... 
and Bugg.

"They knew what was going on, they've let it fall into this mess and 
they are responsible."

Mr Keelty rejected any suggestion his force had mishandled the case and 
said the DPP review was part of the normal judicial process.

"I think it's inappropriate of Mr Faris to anticipate the outcome of
any review," he said.

"Obviously, I've been in close contact with the Director of Public 
Prosecutions since the beginning of the case ... nothing the AFP has 
done has been done without the advice of the DPP."

Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo said he was not confident the case would 
be dropped.

"I've got no way of knowing ... if I knew I'd tell everybody," he said.

Mr Russo said Mr Faris, a Melbourne radio host, was simply looking for
a fight.

"He works to his own agenda. He's a guy on the radio station trying to 
get ratings," he sai