Detained terrorist suspect Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, a foreign student at a local university, was handed over to United States officials this morning by the police and deported back to his home country.

In a press release received by malaysiakini, the embassy said that "Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal was turned over to US officials this morning by the Royal Malaysian Police and was promptly removed from the country and returned to the United States."

Meanwhile, lawyer for American student Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal suspected a darker motive behind the denial of legal access to his client and the 'hush-hush' handling of the case by the authorities.

Darshan Singh Khaira said he had information that Ahmed may have been "tortured and under intense FBI agents interrogation" during the period of his detention from Sunday.

However, US embassy spokesperson Frank Whitaker denied the allegations, saying that no US officials had contact with Ahmed while he was in police custody.

Not al-Qaeda member

Darshan said Ahmed was likely to have been denied access to legal counsel since his arrest on Sunday as authorities "probably do not want the public to know of his torture".

"My oral and written requests (to see Ahmed) have been denied. He has not been produced in court," the lawyer said.

Furthermore, Darshan denied that Ahmed, 25, had undergone any military training, or had any intentions to go to Afghanistan.

"He is not a member of al-Qaeda or any other organisation. He has had no contact with any radical group, Islamic, Christian or Jew," he said.

Darshan expressed concern that Ahmed is unlikely to get a fair hearing in the US because of the "anti-Islamic"climate in the country.

"The allegations by the US are based on hysteria and paranoia against Islamic groups or anyone who sports a beard and wears a turban."

Legal action withdrawn

Earlier, Darshan had written to the Kuala Lumpur High Court asking for Ahmed's habeas corpus application to be struck out, citing a lack of confidence in the proceedings.

In the letter for the withdrawal of the application, the lawyer said Ahmed's parents did not have "faith and confidence" in the proceedings.

"We were directed by the parents of our client to withdraw from these proceedings."

Yesterday, High Court judge S Augustine Paul refused to grant a stay on deportation for Ahmed on grounds that the latter's passport had been revoked by the US government, thereby making him an illegal immigrant.

Ahmed is wanted by the US government for allegedly "waging war against the United States". His passport was revoked by US authorities earlier this month.

On his return to the US, Ahmed faces charges that he, with five others, conspired to fight against the US, provided material support and resources to al-Qaeda, and to contribute services to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He also faces firearms charges.

Ahmed had arrived in Malaysia in January and registered to study for a degree in Quran Sunnah at the International Islamic University in Selangor.