Mehul Choksi denied bail by Dominica magistrate: Local media

A Dominica magistrate has denied bail to absconding diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi who was arrested on May 23 for alleged illegal entry to the Caribbean island country the local media reportedChoksi wanted here in connection with a Rs 13500crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank PNB pleaded before the magistrate that he was abducted and forcibly brought to Dominica from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda about 100 nautical miles away Dominica News Online reportedThe 62yearold wheelchairbound diamantaire who has a pending Interpol Red Corner Notice RCN against him arrived before the presiding Roseau Magistrate Court in a black pair of shorts and a blue Tshirt from the Dominica China Friendship Hospital where he is undergoing treatmentThe Dominica High Court which was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Choksi had ordered him to be presented before the magistrate to face charges of illegal entryAlso Read Mehul Choksi feared for his life was terrified says wife Priti ChoksiA habeas corpus petition is filed for producing before a court a person who is under arrest or in unlawful detentionOur stand that Mehul Choksi is in illegal detention as he was required to be produced within 72 hours before the magistrate and was not so produced has been vindicated In order to remedy this he has been asked to be produced before the magistrate This establishes the illegal detention of Choksi as pleaded by the defence Contrary to numerous media reports there was no discussion regarding the Government of India Choksis lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said hereDuring the hearing before Magistrate Candia CarretteGeorge the Dominica prosecution cited two main arguments to keep Choksi under detention the RCN against him and the ongoing extradition proceedings in the courts of Antigua and Barbuda where he is staying since 2018 after leaving IndiaProsecutor Sherma Dalrymple told the court that Choksi is a flight risk and does not have any ties in Dominica that prevent him from fleeing the country if bail is grantedDefence counsel Wayne Norde said Choksi was not a flight risk considering his health and the pending extradition proceedings in Antigua and Barbuda were also a reason for him not to leave DominicaOffering to pay a bail amount of ECD 10000 double the fine amount for illegal entry to Dominica Norde said Choksi did not have any criminal case in Antigua and Barbuda and the proceedings against him were civil in nature which shows that he is a a man of good characterThe lawyer said the new bail act says a defendant is entitled to the relief as a right unless the offence is of a serious natureIn her order the magistrate said considering the severity of the matter she is not convinced that Choksi will stay in the country to face legal proceedings and adjourned the matter till June 14This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever