Student kept in Villawood by mistake

An Indian international student was detained at Sydney's Villawood detention centre for 18 months because of mistakes by immigration officers.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Catherine Branson has written to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen about the matter, Fairfax reports.

Ms Branson has found that Prashant Cherkupalli, 31, should be paid compensation of $597,000 for the 509 days he was illegally detained between November 2004 and April 2006.

Mr Cherkupalli, who kept his detention secret from his family, is now suing the Commonwealth in the NSW Supreme Court for damages.

"I was ashamed to tell my parents," he told Fairfax.

"I came here to do something and ended up in prison. I spent thousands of dollars from my family."