TENNIS Star Novak Djokovic has reportedly been arrested by the Australian government despite winning his battle over the contentious visa debate.
The Serbian received an exemption from the country’s strict Covid rules, but had his visa revoked by Australian Border forces last week.
The tennis star had spent four nights in an immigration detention hotel before Monday’s hearing.
But now Judge Anthony Kelly said that the decision to cancel Djokovic’s temporary visa should be quashed and the minister for home affairs must pay his costs and take “all necessary steps to release the applicant immediately”.
Djokovic’s passport and all personal effects are to be returned to him imminently. The government must also pay his legal costs, the judge ordered.
However, it seems as though Djokovic may still be banned from playing at this month’s tournament in Melbourne and deported by government officials in spite of the verdict.
According to the reports,he was arrested shortly after the end of his court case on Monday, with his legal team now weighing up their options as they plan a response.
It is claimed that the Australian government are keen to send Djokovic on his way and are looking to do so as a matter of urgency, with his proposed deportation said to be “underway”.
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