Antigua and Barbuda’s Police Commissioner, Dominican-born Atlee Rodney has told reporters in St Johns that the case involving the alleged kidnapping of Indian-born diamantaire Mehul Choksi is still ongoing.
Rodney said three weeks ago, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda held case management discussions into the matter.
He admitted that while there have been some major setbacks in the case, the matter is being investigated vigorously with assistance from regional and international agencies.
“We are working along with other law enforcement agencies both within the region and on the international level,” Rodney said.
Adding, “that matter has been under investigation and we recently had a meeting three weeks ago about case management and looking at all the angles. Even from some of the allegations [Choksi] made, some of the suspects are not Antiguans and not in Antigua but whatever evidence we can gather from the Antigua point of view, we will
continue to pursue that.”
Choksi was reportedly kidnapped and taken to Dominica on May 23, 2021, from Antigua. Choksi and his legal team alleged he was abducted by Indian agents, tortured, and brought to Dominica in a vessel.
He alleged a Hungarian woman and two British citizens were among 7-8 people who abducted and took him to Dominica.
The Dominica Police booked Choksi for illegally entering the country following which the Indian government flew in a team of investigators in the hopes of securing his deportation.
Choksi filed a habeas corpus in the Dominica high court alleging abduction and torture and was sent back to Antigua on medical grounds.
In a 19-page report, Antiguan police concurred with the claims of Choksi that he was forcibly taken away by five persons and dropped in Dominica.
India’s federal investigators have been trying to extradite Choksi and his business partner, Nirav Modi, since they fled the country in 2018 and question them about an alleged $1.8 billion scam at a large, state-owned bank.
The current slew of cases registered against Choksi in India includes criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, dishonesty, corruption, and money laundering.
With all that talk of “resilience” this and that – Take a close-up look at this wheelchair. Zoom in and see the front wheels of this Baby stroller. See which way the left front wheel is heading. There’s appx. 3” handle on this buggy that makes it difficult for this cop to maneuver the chair with almost 400 lbs defendant. But we are the most “resilient” islands in the Caribbean – even if the government is unable to buy equipment to facilitate the disabled. Where has all of our money gone to? Any body?
Monfared got no sympathy so why all this sympathy for Choksi?
@Jimmy
There is no sympathy here..The rule of law was violated by people from Antigua and Dominica.
Wasn’t skerrit good friend Ali Reza Monfared accused and convicted in Iran for the same accusations launched at Choksi?
What about Choksi health…..is he ok?
Are you guys dragging this case on purpose?
At the conclusion of the matter we shall find out if punishment for violating of laws is only for the poor and those without political connections.
Rodney, I hope you are not a puppet to Gaston Brown!
It is almost Election Day in Antigua, where there is a probability of Gaston will be kicked out; I would hope that you are not simply talking only to detour the Antiguans attention from getting rid of another corrupted crook.
Commonsense should tell you Gaston and Roosevelt orchestrated the abduction of the Indian crook to send him back to India, the idea was if Gaston allow the Indian government to take a bought and paid for Antiguan citizen baring an Antigua passport back to the place of his birth to be sent to jail when the idea is to protect the worlds criminals, that would have jeopardized the sale Antigua passports.
So, he used the little ignorant boy Roosevelt and Dominica, to do his dirty work; how much the Indian government paid these two corrupted clowns, they know, but corrupted and ill-gain money usually burn the soul of thieves and corrupted crooks!
Nothing to investigate arrest Roosevelt and Gaston!
Nothing will ever come of this case unless there is a change of administration in Antigua & Barbuda. Law enforcement officials work at the behest of the two makn suspects in high office in Antigua and Dominica.
The police have sufficient information to close in and arrest all those who were complicit in this criminal ring. The recent utterances of the CoP in Antigua are strictly to pacify enquiring minds.
We have unfettered corruption in the Caribbean region more particularly in these two aforementioned jurisdictions.
The problem is that the police have lost sight of the fact that they are public servants and not beholden to corrupt rulers.
This is taking too long man!!!
I would like to see those scamps, rascals and criminals from Antigua, Dominica and elsewhere involved in this kidnapping be dragged before the court. The Metropolitan police ticketed Boris Johnson for violating Covid 19 protocols,, so its not corrupt leaders they will spare justice..
They must have a mountain of evidence to collect in Dominica..Those rascals should be found guilty and jailed!!
One of the most serious problems in this region is law enforcement entities do not act independently. They are guided, directed and controlled by the powers that be. Most of the CoPs owe their position to the person in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The wheels of justice move slowly at its pace and, you should respect that.