International - India & World

Special treatment for Indian detenu

Melbourne: An Indian immigration detenu is believed to be enjoying special treatment by the Australian Government. He is housed in a serviced apartment and protected by security guards round-the-clock, media reports said.

Peter Sankaran cost the taxpayers $ 400,000 in the past few months as he enjoyed special treatment from the immigration department, a TV channel reported on Monday. The channel also aired footage of Mr. Sankaran working in his brother's Indian restaurant and being driven around Sydney by security officials.

Defending the treatment given to Mr. Sankaran, Australia's Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said on Tuesday that a handful of detenus were being held under special conditions, outside the usual immigration detention arrangements, for a variety of reasons.

"I can't give you the details of this particular case, but I can assure you it fits into the very unusual category," Ms. Vanstone said, adding, "We've only got seven people, as of earlier this month ... in a different sort of accommodation that might be either a hotel or an apartment, who needed to be under guard," The Australian quoted her as saying. — PTI

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