In a setback to fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, the Dominica High Court has refused his bail plea on the grounds of flight risk. Local media (ANI)
Argument in court:
The Choksi’s lawyers argue that as a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) citizen, Mehul Choksi is entitled to bail as the alleged offense is bailable one with a fine of EC$ 5,000. They asked the court to impose a cash bail: Local media
The lawyers also said that their client is unwell and is, therefore, not a flight risk.
Meanwhile, advocate Lennox Lawrence on behalf of the state opposed Choksi’s bail on account of him being a flight risk and having an Interpol red notice issued against him.
On Choksi’s medical condition, Lawrence said it is not an issue because he has received the necessary medical attention.
Charge of illegal entry into Dominica:
The 62-year-old had approached the high court after his bail petition was rejected by a Roseau magistrate. Choksi has been accused of illegally entering the island nation. Additionally, the Dominican government on Thursday declared Choksi a ‘prohibited immigrant’ in the nation.
However, Choksi denies the charge, and claims he was kidnapped and taken there by force.
Choksi is one of main accuse of PNB scam:
For the uninitiated, Mehul Choksi, one of the main accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank scam. After leaving India in January 2018, he was living in Antigua as a citizen. After this Mehul Choksi was found in Dominica and the police took him into custody.
