Muslim drug user sues police for wrongful arrest and wins
Wrongful drug arrest: NSW Young Australian of the Year wins damages case
A one-time Young Australian of the Year contender has won $18,705 in damages, with a judge today finding she was wrongfully arrested for the alleged supply of cocaine.
A Muslim leader and adviser to former prime minister John Howard, Iktimal Hage-Ali received the NSW Young Australian of the Year award in November 2006.
Eight days earlier, she had been arrested by officers attached to the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad on suspicion of supplying cocaine. She was questioned but released without charge.
After her arrest was made public, she relinquished her award and moved overseas.
Ms Hage-Ali, 25, sued the state in the District Court, seeking damages for wrongful arrest.
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