Australian Federal Police on Monday denied reports that it had made handwritten notes in the diary of Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who is charged with "recklessly" supporting a terrorist group.
The Australian newspaper reported that police had written the names of overseas terror suspects in Haneef's personal diary before asking the Indian doctor during an interview if he had written the potentially incriminating notes himself.
AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said the report, based on an interview conducted shortly after Haneef's arrest on July 2, was incorrect.
"Police at no time made any notations or additions to Haneef's diary," he was quoted as saying in the media.
"As this matter is currently before the court, it is not appropriate for the AFP to elaborate in greater detail," Keelty said.
He said the episode highlighted the problem with releasing records of police interviews before they could be presented to a court -- as Haneef's lawyers did last week.
"When misinterpreted or taken out of context -- and in the absence of other material that will be placed before the court - this has the potential to undermine the court process," he said.