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  • THURSDAY JANUARY 27 2005 9:21 AM

Terror Suspect Not Allowed to Sell Story

Submitted by TheFuckOffKid

Edited by Michael_J_Totten

Mamdouh Habib, the terror suspect who is now to be allowed to return to Australia (not in shackles as far as we know) will not be detained in custody on his return, unlike several detainees returned to the UK in the last week.

Commissioner Keelty says the AFP has no evidence against Mr Habib.

"We've already interviewed Mr Habib as part of the process in trying to determine whether any offences had been committed under Australian law," he said.

"We will maintain our interest not only on Mr Habib but also on anything that's of relevance to terrorism in this country.

"At this point in time there's no evidence to suggest that Mr Habib has committed a crime under Australian law."


But the government is not content. They're looking to deprive him of the one compensation he might get out of his long and (it seems) unwarranted detention -- selling his story.

The federal government is investigating whether it can stop Guantanamo Bay prisoner Mamdouh Habib from profiting from selling his story, as his lawyer says media outlets are willing to pay for it.

Mr Habib's lawyer Stephen Hopper said it was important for his client to tell his story and make Australians aware of what the government had allowed to happen to an Australian citizen.

Mr Habib is expected to be flown home on a government-chartered long-range jet within a week.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Mr Habib would not be prevented from telling his story, only from selling it.

Anti-terrorism laws passed by parliament last year bar anyone implicated in any terror offences from selling their story.

"We will investigate whether or not the offences that relate to profiting from crime can apply in this instance," Mr Ruddock told ABC television.

"That doesn't prevent him telling the story, but it would prevent him from receiving funds for having given those interviews."


Habib's lawyer is returning the favour, looking to see whether the government knew he was being tortured during his detention at Guantanamo Bay.

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Comments
freshprncebelair

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD
June 2004

JAN 27, 2005 10:38 AM

Well, there is a solution: Leave the country and then recieve the money, or otherwise do business outside the country.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

JAN 27, 2005 10:39 AM

skankzor said:
Well, there is a solution: Leave the country and then recieve the money, or otherwise do business outside the country.


Yeah, I'm sure he's free to travel outside the country.

starguitar

starguitar

Canada
August 2004

JAN 27, 2005 10:47 AM

"We will investigate whether or not the offences that relate to profiting from crime can apply in this instance," Mr Ruddock told ABC television.



But isn't he the victim of the "crime" here, since he was the one being held illegally by a foreign country under suspicion of a crime that it has not yet been proven he committed?

Anton

Anton

Australia
September 2003

JAN 27, 2005 11:01 AM

This is an absolute national disgrace. The US, of course, should be ashamed for detaining someone for three years without a charge. (Not to mention apparently torturing him, claiming his family had been killed, and getting a prostitute to menstruate on him).

But the Australian government sat by idly while it happened to one of its citizens. If he is a terrorist, of course he should be punished. But the US had three years to get any proof against him, and they couldn't manage.

Straif

straif

Ottawa, ON
November 2004

JAN 27, 2005 11:50 AM


Mamdouh Habib... will not be detained in custody on his return, unlike several detainees returned to the UK in the last week.



The four British detainees were, in fact, held in the UK for only one day before being released without charge.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4210815.stm

TheFuckOffKid

TheFuckOffKid

NEWSWIRE

Australia

JAN 27, 2005 12:17 PM

Straif said:


Mamdouh Habib... will not be detained in custody on his return, unlike several detainees returned to the UK in the last week.



The four British detainees were, in fact, held in the UK for only one day before being released without charge.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4210815.stm


Fair point. I did know that, and should have made it clear in the story.

On another note I just want it understood that I originally submitted this under the title "Oh Mamdouh, Don't Take Your Story To Town" which I think has a nice Kenny Rogers feel to it. But oh well...

farrukh

farrukh

United Kingdom
October 2004

JAN 27, 2005 12:35 PM

Akrasia

Akrasia

Ireland
August 2004

JAN 27, 2005 06:34 PM

in ireland we have something called the criminal assets beuro, which was set up specifically to ceise assetts gained and controlled by criminals because of criminal activity....

of course, if such an organisation existed, and operated properly, in america, Bush would never hyave benefitted from the millions in nazi dollers his family gained from, neither, perhaps, would Osamma bin ladin, have benefited from money paid by the CIA to fund ilegal terror organisations, nor would his family have gained from the policies that were designed to keep control of valuable natural assets in 'preferred' hands.

Ella_1

Ella_1

HOPEFUL

Australia

JAN 28, 2005 03:51 PM

This is appaling, although not suprising at all.

He wont be stopped from telling his story, so I wonder if he could get around this by telling to to a 3rd party - a cousin or other family member and have them sell the story and give him the cash minus a fee....

hmmmm

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