Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who was released from nearly month-long detention after being arrested over the failed UK terror plot, could still face charges even though the original case against him collapsed due to lack of evidence, according to Australia's police chief.
The investigation into the Haneef case was far from over, Australian Federal Police Chief Mick Keelty was quoted as saying by SKY news channel.
Keelty defended the police's handling of the case, denying that the investigation had in any way been bungled.
"At the moment it is quite annoying that people are saying this is a bungled investigation. It is not bungled at all. It is continuing. It's still potentially possible that a brief of evidence will be submitted against Haneef," he said.
Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo, who is in India along with the doctor, expressed anger at the police chief's remarks.
"For crying out loud, it was his (Keelty's) information that the director (of public prosecutions) relied on not to proceed with the matter," he told the Nine Network.
The Indian doctor returned to India at the weekend after prosecutors dropped a charge against him that he had recklessly provided support to a terrorist organisation by having given his mobile phone SIM card to a relative linked to the foiled UK terror plot.
Meanwhile, a lawyer for Haneef's associate Mohammed Asif Ali, who was also questioned about possible terrorism links, said his client was still a person of interest to the Australian Federal Police.
Twenty-six-year-old Ali was earlier questioned alongside Haneef about possible links to the botched car bombings in the UK.
His lawyer Neil Lawler said no terrorism charges will be laid against his client, but he is a witness for the federal police, ABC reported.
Ali is now accused of providing inaccurate information on his resume and has been issued a 'show cause' notice by the Queensland Medical Board.
Lawler said Ali acknowledges he deceived the medical board about employment dates and is fearful he may lose his working visa.