New raids target Gold Coast doctors
Kevin Meade and Natalie O'Brien
POLICE yesterday carried out new raids on the home and workplace of Mohamed Haneef, the Gold Coast doctor detained for questioning last week over failed terror plots in Britain.
The joint federal-state team investigating Dr Haneef, 27, carried out another exhaustive search of his apartment, later towing away his car.
And police conducted a new raid on the nearby home of his Gold Coast Hospital colleague, Mohammed Asif Ali, who was questioned by police last week and released.
An Australian Federal Police spokesman confirmed that search warrants had been executed at the two apartments.
"Those search warrants were required to be executed because of analysis of material which was seized during searches last week," he said.
He declined to elaborate and would not say why police had again raided the home of Dr Ali, who was cleared by the counter-terrorist team last week of any wrongdoing over the failed bomb plots in London and Glasgow.
Dr Haneef's car, a bright blue late-model Honda Jazz, was towed away by police during the raid on his unit at Telesto Place, a short walk from the Gold Coast Hospital. It is understood police also executed a search warrant at the hospital.
The raids come after forensic computer experts spent the past five days examining mobile phones and tens of thousands of computer files found on Dr Haneef's personal and work computers.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the AFP investigation involved processing a significant amount of computer material.
"I am told it is the equivalent of reading 31,000 pages of paper to look at the amount of material that actually has to be analysed that has been retrieved through the exercising of search warrants," he said.
Dr Haneef, who was being held in the Brisbane Watchhouse last night, has been in custody since he was arrested at Brisbane airport last Monday as he tried to board an 11.45pm flight to Bangalore, India, with a one-way ticket.
The AFP has been given the power to detain Dr Haneef until tonight while it continues its investigations. However, once the deadline expires at 11.30pm, police will have just 12 hours to interview Dr Haneef before they have to charge him with an offence or release him.
Police late last week obtained from a Brisbane magistrate a four-day extension of his detention. It was the second extension obtained by police since Dr Haneef's arrest. Mr Ruddock yesterday left open the possibility of granting an extension under law to allow Dr Haneef to be held without charge.
"I'll be advised by competent authorities ... whether we should review those measures," he said.
Mr Ruddock said if police asked the federal Government to "go further" to ensure they had enough time to complete an investigation, "I would treat that very seriously".
Mr Ruddock also indicated that the five foreign doctors questioned last week - four from Western Australia and one from NSW - might be interviewed again.
"I think the distinguishing factor in relation to Dr Haneef from the others was that he was intent on leaving Australia," he said.
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