Border bosses admit mistakes over Hakeem al-Araibi

Australian Border Force officials have admitted their processes “broke down” in the case of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi.

Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi is seen during a training session with his Pascoe Vale team in Melbourne on Monday. Picture: AAP

Australian Border Force officials have admitted their processes “broke down” and accepted some responsibility for the detention of refugee footballer Hakeem al- Araibi.

The 25-year-old languished for months in a Thai prison because an ABF officer neglected to inform other Australian authorities that Mr Araibi was under protection.

ABF boss Michael Outram said his officer should have emailed the Australian Federal Police and Department of Home Affairs.

This would have prevented Thailand being alerted to an Interpol red notice issued against him.

“It is clear that human error occurred within the ABF process,” Mr Outram told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Mondaynight.

However, he declined to offer Mr Araibi an apology.

“I apologise for the error that occurred with the ABF but I can’t say — and nor can I accept — that error necessarily ledto his detention in Thailand.” The AFP has also identified a “gap” in its handling of the case, but apportioned most of theblame to Home Affairs.

Mr Araibi, a permanent resident of Australia, was arrested in Bangkok in November.

Bahrain had earlier requested a red notice against Mr Araibi over disputed allegations he vandalised a police station.

The AFP — which hosts an Interpol office and has staff seconded there — flagged the notice with border authorities.

However, the federal police and Interpol were unaware Mr Araibi was under Australia’s protection.

“Neither the AFP nor the Australian Interpol NCB can access this information; we rely on notifications from the Home Affairsdepartment,” AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin told the committee.

“The Home Affairs department provided Mr Araibi’s visa status to the AFP on the 28th of November, the day after his detentionin Thailand.” Interpol would not have issued the red notice if they knew about Mr Araibi’s refugee status.

“It was issued in good faith by Interpol; they were not aware at the time of issuing it that he was subject to a protectionvisa,” Mr Colvin said. The AFP then referred his visa status to Interpol’s legal affairs department, and Mr Araibi’s rednotice was rescinded on December 1.

The 25-year-old returned to Australia last week after spending more than two months behind bars, following a decision by Thaiauthorities not to pursue extradition proceedings against him.

He returned to Melbourne on February 12.

There is no legal obligation for Home Affairs to notify federal police about somebody’s refugee status.

On November 28, the day after Mr Araibi was arrested in Thailand, an AFP officer emailed Home Affairs about his case.

Bahrain had also raised allegations with Interpol that the 25-year-old departed Australia on a suspected fake travel document.

An AFP employee raised this matter with Home Affairs.

Home Affairs advised the AFP officer that Mr Araibi was travelling on a valid document, and also held a protection visa.

This was the first time the AFP learned of his visa status.

However, the response from Home Affairs was not read.

The AFP employee had gone home and did not return to work until after Home Affairs provided separate advice about Mr Araibi’sprotection visa. The AFP insists this “gap” had no impact on Mr Araibi’s detention, as it occurred the day after his arrest.

AAP