AFP spends 8.2 mn Aus dollars in probing Haneef's case

MELBOURNE: The Australian Federal Police has spent a hefty 8.2 million dollars till date in probing the alleged involvement of Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef in the UK terror blast last year.

"Our current expenditure on Operation Rain as at May 14, 2008 was $8.2 million," Australian Federal Police (AFP) chief Mick Keelty told a Senate estimates committee hearing, reported today.

Operation Rain was the Australian response and provision of assistance to UK Metropolitan Police in relation to the terrorist attacks in London and Glasglow in July 2007.

"The expenditure of resources in assisting the UK metropolitan police and ensuring any Australian connections were appropriately investigated, in addition to the prevention of similar attacks in Australia, is not only an appropriate response but an obligation for the AFP," he said.

Keelty, however, insisted that entire was not spent on pursuing the India-born Gold Coast medical registrar who was detained at Brisbane airport last July.

"A sum of 3.2 million dollar was directly attributable to specific investigation of Haneef and related inquiries," Keelty said, adding over 5 million Aus dollar is attributable to the investigation of other persons of whom I will not be commenting due to operational sensitivities.

At its peak, Operation Rain involved 249 AFP officers, 225 Queensland police, 12 officers from the Attorney-General's department, 54 West Australian police, 40 NSW police, six Customs officers, two Northern Territory police, one Tasmanian officer, six translators, four other law enforcement agencies and two UK police posted to Australia, the AFP chief said.

The AFP had also responded to 29 national security hotline reports generated from the operation, he said.