A Dominica Magistrate Court has adjourned till June 25 the trial of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choki for alleged illegal entry into the Caribbean island nation.
Choksi was due to appear in the court on Monday, where his trial for alleged “illegal entry into Dominica on May 23, 2021” was to have commenced, Dominican media outlet Natureislenews reported.
"However, he was “a no show” and instead his lawyers presented a medical certificate from his medical doctor at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital where he has been a patient for the past two weeks claiming that he was suffering from “mental stress” and his blood pressure was elevated and hence unable to attend court,” the local media outlet there reported.
The prosecution headed by acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple told the court that “we are ready to proceed to trial.” She also introduced and added to the State’s prosecuting team Indian lawyer Harpreet Giana who will be assisting in the case, the report said.
Chief Magistrate Carette-George then adjourned the matter to June 25, 2021, at 9 AM Caribbean time and Choksi will remain under police guard as a patient at the hospital. She also ordered that he be brought to court on Thursday, June 17, 2021, to be further remanded.
Choksi and his nephew are wanted in India for the alleged Rs 13,500 crore PNB credit fraud case.
Choksi and Modi had fled India in the first week of January, 2018 when the mega banking scam was unraveling. While Modi escaped to Europe and was finally nabbed in London where he is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017. Choksi has been staying in Antigua since January 2018 before is escape to Dominica on May 23 this year.
Choksi, 62, is now facing two cases in Antigua and a similar number of cases in Dominica. His lawyers have alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua by policemen looking like Antiguans and Indians and brought to Dominica on a boat.
Meanwhile, an affidavit filed by Consular Officer at the High Commission of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica before the top court there asserted that Choksi continued to be an Indian citizen till date as his application for renunciation of citizenship was rejected by the Indian Government.