The criminal case of illegal entry against Indian diamantaire, Mehul Choksi, has been discontinued by acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple.
The 63-year-old diamond tycoon, who gained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, is wanted by the India’s judicial authorities for allegedly cheating the Punjab National Bank of over two billion US dollars, one of India’s largest bank frauds in decades.
The circumstances surrounding his mysterious appearance in Dominica on May 24, 2021, at Toucari Beach, remains a mystery.
However, Choksi maintained that he was kidnapped, beaten, and unwillingly brought to Dominica, in an attempt to return him to Indian authorities, while the police claimed that he entered Dominica’s shores illegally and consequently charged him with that offense.
During his two-month stay in Dominica, Choksi was remanded in the custody of the police as a patient at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) as he was bleeding in the brain among other medical conditions.
His attorneys subsequently filed for judicial review in the High Court for the alleged complaint and were also seeking judicial review for the decision of Minister Blackmoore to declare Choksi a prohibited immigrant in a letter dated May 25, 2021, pursuant to section 5(1)(f) of the Immigration and Passport Act.
Through their application, the attorneys were also asking the court to grant a permanent order staying the criminal charge brought against the Applicant [Choksi] for breach of section 27A of the Immigration and Passport Act and to prohibite the Chief Magistrate “whether by herself, or by, or through any Magistrate within the jurisdiction of Magistrate’s District “E” or otherwise from hearing, adjudicating or otherwise exercising any magisterial functions with respect to the criminal complaint against the Applicant.”
While in Dominica, Choksi’s health deteriorated and after several unsuccessful bail attempts, on July 12, 2021, High court Judge, Justice Bernie Stephenson granted bail in the sum of $10,000.00 to the accused to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for specialized medical attention, as recommended by medical authorities, which was not available in Dominica .
Since his departure from Dominica, Choksi has not returned and has publicly stated that this was unlikely due to his poor health.
However, the businessman will no longer have to answer to the charges as the acting DPP has issued a notice of discontinuance to the courts.
In the notice of which Dominica News Online (DNO) has since obtained a copy , Dalyrmple said her decision was in accordance with the provisions of section 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
“I do hereby discontinue the above mentioned proceedings against the said, Mehul Chinubhai Choksi,” the notice dated May 17, 2022, to the Chief Magistrate, stated.
Justice Stephenson was also made aware of the discontinuation of the matter at a hearing via Zoom today.
The Judge ordered the return of the EC$10,000.00 cash paid by Choksi which was required prior to his admission to bail in an effort to secure his appearance in Dominica for his illegal entry trial in the magistrate court.
Following the discontinuation of criminal proceedings in Dominica against the Indian-born businessman, Choksi’s spokesperson James Lynch issued a statement on his behalf expressing his relief on the latest development.
“Mr. Choksi is pleased that the Dominican Government has today dropped all charges against him for unlawful entry in May 2021. By doing so, they now recognise that there was never any case against him,” Lynch stated
He further averred that Choksi was forcibly removed from Antigua against his will by agents of the Indian State, viciously assaulted, and taken to Dominica by boat, where he was again unlawfully handed over to authorities for an offense he never committed.
“Mr. Choksi’s legal team continues to pursue all avenues for justice to redress the human rights violations committed against him,” Lynch said in the statement. “Mr. Choksi hopes that those responsible for his kidnapping from Antigua on May 23rd, 2021, will be brought to justice.”
I was expecting the entire judiciary in Dca to unify and step down with immediate effect until Roosevelt Skerrit and his cabal resigns. From the AG, DPP, Magistrates and High Court Judges…all should stop hearing cases. This country in doomed under that cabal of thugs, rouges and vagabonds.
Listen to Lennox Linton,he has the case covered,every T crossed every I dotted yet he does not take his iron clad evidence to Interpol,Scotland yard or the FBI and the question is WHY.Remember the Terry Baron $1,000,000 black bag issue?Linton said,he had NEVER seen,met or spoken to Terry Baron.When his lie was exposed,he said he may have taken a photo with Terry.Asked why he had reported the black bay to the police six months later he said he was in contact with the FBI,Interpol and Scotland yard to find out who Terry was before going to the local police.Jonathan Y St Jean one of your brothers,a former policeman was suspended 3 times from the force.(1) for the murder of Jno Rose Lindsay at Police Headquarters(2)The shooting of a young man in the foot at St.Joseph(3)Unlawful battery of a young man in Mero.All police charged charged in the death of a man of Portsmouth are now free.If UWP and Linton have evidence Choksi was kidnapped by government produce it until then,shut up.LOSERS
I’m waiting to hear from Gregor Nassief who shouted from the rooftops after the CBS expose’ about the good name of Dominica being sullied by the leader of the opposition. Since then we have had an international fugitive, Monfared, who was a guest of honor of the government of Dominica in the country, and the signing of diplomatic relations with Syria, an international pariah, now a report by the Antiguan police confirming that Choksi was kidnapped and brought to Dominica and falsely accused by the government of illegal entry after the plan to deport him to India fell through. Gregor, let me tell you that these issues which are known and viewed internationally are also detrimental to national security and image. Have you lost your tongue Gregor or have you just revealed yourself to be a damn disingenuous hypocrite. Speak up man if you care about Dominica and not only about lining your pockets. It’s shameful Gregor Nassief so speak up now or forever shut up.
That very same courtesy should be extended to some of Mr Skerritt’ political enemies. Those in oblivion with judicial fruits dangling overhead, is seeking the very same amnesty received by Mr Choksi. It might just be the right thing to do.
You wish! Not in a life time, you ahole! But be careful what you wish for…
The more I read your comments the more I think that you have lost a ‘screw’. Some people are wise and others are otherwise. You, BobD, most undoubtedly fit perfectly in the latter category.
Man, you remind of this quote. ‘Sense is never common.’
As far as I’m concerned it was a deal concocted between Skerrit and Browne and they would share the bounty promised by India between them. But somebody cocked up big time. Bloody amateurs, even that crime they could not do properly.
“The circumstances surrounding his mysterious appearance in Dominica on May 24, 2021, at Toucari Beach, remains a mystery.”
Why are we supporting this absolute rubbish? Everyone know very well how he got to Dominica and who was involved. There is absolutely no mystery here. Mr. Choksi now need to file his case against both governments.
Dominica today is a country where victims and law abiding citizens are arrested and victimised by the police while criminals and corrupt officials walk free everyday in Dominica, from Captain down to crook – well two of the same really, the Captain is chief crook!
What will this (Recalcitrant) DLP administration and it’s “mouton batallie” enablers come up with next. First they tried to blame the whole “Choksi” fiasco on the the UWP opposition and the concerned citizens of this country. What is most sinister is the fact that they continue to point a finger at anyone expressing a positive view of the administration’s shortcomings, while ignoring the fact that they are the ones creating the bad image for Dominica by their callous and unpatriotic and most times criminal actions against it’s very own citizens and foreign institutions; “fire burn dem”
I hope he gets extradited back to India to face his crimes.
It will happen at the same time his kidnappers get to pay for their own crimes.
Since you are such a fair and justice seeking person you have no problem with this.
Choksi need to sue the government of Dominica and Antigua, them sue skerrit gaston bronw , and blackmore separately for kidnapping .
Boy, boy these so-called workers comidians sure knows how to come up with crap!!!
DNO let me quiz you guys.
-Was there ever a case?
-How could there be a case when the criminals that committed the crimes were never charged?
-How could the victim of crimes be charged for crime against him?
-DNO was PM Skerrit summoned to testify as a witness or otherwise?
-Was the national security minister Raymond Blackmore summoned to testify as a witness or otherwise?
DNO since that took place in the backyard of Regional Austrie do you know if Mr Austrie was surmouned to testify as a witness or otherwise?
– Were senior members of the Dominica police department charged or summoned to testify or otherwise?
DNO I’m just asking questions because I want to know the truth and those who hold such important positions ought to be creatures of Truth, Justice and Peace
Good questions! Unfortunately, the answers to every one of your questions is in the negative.
What a corrupt Justice System there is! The government, the police, the DPP, the prosecutors, the magistrates, the judges are all of one feather.
Justice in Dominica is like a fairy – non-existent. Looking for justice from the justice system in Dominica is like a farmer looking to the sky, and expecting rain on a bright, hot, sunny, cloudless day.
Dominica makes regional and international headlines for all the wrong reasons. Skerrit has indelibly sullied the name Dominica. He has dragged it, and continues to drag it through raw sewage.
Choksi’s lawyers should pursue this international incident until every minute details relating to this case are unearthed. At least two present Caribbean leaders should be implicated in the kidnapping of Mr. Mehul Choski.
Luftus Durand was dragged over white hot coals for relentlessly seeking the truth about this matter. The operatives of the corrupt and cannabalistic maladministration attempted to tear him to shreds. Now he has been completely vindicated. Luftus, take a bow.
What a waste of time this fiasco was. At least it detracted from the other madness which happened in the country. The government wasted taxpayer money on the soap opera which occurred. What this shows us is that the police and both the governments of Antigua and Dominica engaged to facilitate the Indian government in criminal behavior and tried to deny a Caricom citizen his rights for a few dollars. I wonder who was going to be paid, or who got paid and how much? The fact that the boat which brought Choksi to Dominica and the occupants of the said boat was never investigated nor charged shows that justice was blinded in this instance therefore the matter had to be dismissed. I just hope that Choski pursues his justice in the courts and exposes the complicity of the governments and their officials. The acting police chief stresses that criminal behavior must stop, well it starts with him and his enablers. Corbette, respect the oath you took and the construction.