Magistrate Pearl Williams has ordered that Antiguan citizen and businessman Mehul Choksi who is wanted in India for alleged bank fraud, be remanded at the Dominica State Prison despite a decline in his health.
Choksi, who pleaded not guilty to illegal entry into Dominica, was remanded into police custody at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where he has been a patient since May 29, 2021.
On June 2, 2021, at Choksi’s first court hearing where the charge was read to him, the acting Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Sherma Dalyrample, made an application before the Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette George pursuant to section 212 of the Magistrate code of procedure, to have him brought before a Magistrate every three days to be further remanded until he is discharged from the hospital.
This application came under review by Magistrate Williams on June 11, however, she reserved her ruling as a bail application for Choksi was being heard in the High Court on the same day.
Today, the 62-year-old diamantaire was expected to appear before the court for reporting and further remand but his attorneys presented a medical report to the court which indicated that Choksi’s health has deteriorated and as a result, he was unable to attend.
However, Magistrate Williams ordered that Choksi be remanded at the State Prison as she stated, based on the law, she does not have the jurisdiction to remand the accused to the hospital every three days.
Dissatisfied with her decision, three of Choksi’s attorneys who were present in court – Julien Prevost, Zena Moore-Dyer and Gina Dyer-Munro– objected, claiming that their client is now in a bad state and the decision to remand him to the state prison is appalling as bleeding in the head is one of his conditions.
The attorneys argued that there must be a certain level of “humanity” in how the court operates and everyone should be treated fairly.
Despite the heated argument in court, Magistrate Williams remained resolute in her decision and said her order will stand. She said arrangements will be made for the court to visit the hospital for Choksi to be remanded at the prison.
Attorneys for Choksi said they will go to the High court to prevent the order.
Dominica News Online (DNO) will continue to follow the development of this story.
The Magistrate remanded Choksi until June 24, where he will appear before the court to be further remanded whilst his trial for illegal entry is expected to commence on June 25, 2021.
The matter of Habeas Corpus filed by Choksi’s attorneys in the High Court has been adjourned sine die.
The 62-year-old diamond tycoon who gained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, is wanted by the Indian judicial authorities for allegedly cheating the Punjab National Bank of over two billion US dollars, one of India’s largest bank frauds in decades.
Boy them people wicked too wi boy. The man’s health is failing. Doctors reports arent good enough? The man is yet to be convicted of anything but these people in high places want to treat him like the worst criminal around. Wicked set of people!!! Dominicans like to think because a man has a court case that man is a bad person. Because a man went to jail, he deserves to be in jail and treated like he is worthless for the rest of his life. If a man goes to jail that man is the worst kind of person and should be left out of society. Just remember Jesus was in jail too, and it is the same kind of attitude that made the people call for his crucifixion when he was carrying his cross. Every Saint has a past. Every Sinner has a future. At least allow the man to go through court system like a human being before you start treating him like he is already guilty and worth less than a dog.
Is that how an illegal entry person supposed to be treated? Like a dog? But people! What’s really going on in our country? Could someone please explain this to me? One man is “high priest, chief of police, court magistrate, attorney general, head of health department, head of passport distribution, head of the so called “Christian churches, head of immigration, head of all heads in Dominica!!! I cannot wrap my head around what’s really happening. And I’m getting scared because something very bad may happen in our very nice island, and it won’t be nice. People it won’t be nice. I smell something burning.
Dominica court is siding with the Prime Minister because they may be all involve and it was a set up. They have not have any evidence that the man came in illegally by himself but the court Lee treating him like a dog as you say.
Send the gentleman back to Antigua.
God is not sleeping. You see how the plane intervention was blocked?
Play with the Almighty still..brimstone will fall on you all.
Send him back
This is exactly the Modus Operandi of the autocratic regime. They use the militia (police) and the count to sanitize their dirty handiwork. Nothing they do passes the smell test. It is always odorous, putrid, rotten or surrounded by suspicion and secrecy.
Choski is learning how crime hurts when committed and the caught.
The legal term: “Cruel and unusual punishment is a phrase mentioned in the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. However, the Constitution does not give more guidance than that, and so courts–particularly the Supreme Court–have heard a number of cases which have given guidance to the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Choksi is alleged to have committed Bank Fraud in Punjab India, whether he is involved in ten billion or a hundred billion dollar fraud or theft, he still remains a human being; and I must admit what is done to the alleged fugitive in Dominica is undoubtedly “cruel and unusual punishment!”
People murder innocent people, and courts do grant bail to murderers; which is more important: money or human life?
The man should be granted bail, or deported to Antigua to where he belongs; he is a citizen of Antigua, otherwise, he should be in a Hospital Ward getting treated!
Cont:
Dominica is a place where people are hospitalized, for the most minor of any illness; they walking into the hospital, and days later they are carried out on a gurney foot first stiff like a plank!
If that man dies in a Dominica hospital, Roosevelt will have to be blamed for his death!
Gaston as all the rest has played Roosevelt Skerrit for the sucker they all know he is; the only way to get our country out of this Gaston, Roosevelt arrangement is to either deport Choksi back to Antigua; or simply returned him to authorities in Antigua without deportation; give him the benefit of the doubt since he made the claim that he was abducted; which I believe and brought to Dominica!
You see the man’s life is more important than money; people file bankruptcy on hundreds of billions of dollars every day, with no lives lost. Dominica is the only place people go to jail when they owe people or bank!
Note: the following is in reference to the American constitution; even in British law they do not have anything written which definitely states “cruel and unusual punishment:” there is something similar, which I shall not detail at this moment.
“The legal term: “Cruel and unusual punishment is a phrase mentioned in the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
However, the Constitution does not give more guidance than that, and so courts–particularly the Supreme Court–have heard a number of cases which have given guidance to the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.”
I am talking here about the Eight Amendment within the American Constitution; in any event the fugitive in Dominica is indeed subjected to cruel and unusual punishment!
@Francisco, what the hell you on about American law have to do with Dominica, so-called s**t states after states has deferent laws it is false economy in my opinion how could you compare the both this is nonsense, and also smarta** boy you proof to us of cruelty has taken place bloody ahole!!!
Shut Up Man Dog; you do not know the difference in words: “economy, and ‘cruel, and unusual punishment!’
Economy has no relation in the English language to what I wrote about cruel and unusual punishment.
No relationship actually; what you have done is like someone asking you; how old are you, and you responded by saying the sky’s are gray today!
I sort of thought you are the smartest on the planet; but I did not know your are so smart where it pertains to English grammar eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!
It is outrageous how they are treating the man without any evidence . Only the evidence from their corrupt police officers
Time to get this sheet straight!
1. Choksi was discovered on our shores but claims he was abducted and brought here against his will.
2. He was arrested and charged with illegal entry which is wrong since he was allegedly dumped on our shores
3. The illegal entry is a summary offense that can be heard immediately by a magistrate unless the prosecution or defense team asks for more time.
4. The MAGISTRATE has a right to refuse either, so in this case he should have said no and proceed with the case due to its high profile.
5. If found guilty he can fine, confine and fine or order deportation to his country ANTIGUA without fine (president signs the order) or allow him to stay in Dca at his expense for a period of time
6. Off to Antigua he goes. Case done!
Let India and Antigua handle their commess at this time while we arrest Corbette, Skerro, Cobra, Whiteless and Rotwiler. We will then decide their fate for alleged complicity and treason. Ah Watchin Still! :twis
Our leaders are above the law and don’t need to provide us with answers. They don’t need to account for financial deficits or explain how they knew about the white men that showed up at LL house and got caught on his camera… so they definitely not gonna provide clarity on this issue.
I mean a man with Choksi’s ability to make billions would have at least basic logic/common sense… the basic logic that would stop him from leaving a safe haven for criminals (like Antigua) where he enjoys the safety awarded to citizens like him… and risk coming to a place like Dominica… why would he do that?
How did the police know he was in D A?
We must accept that our authorities have zero respect for our intelligence and effectively force us to ignore common sense. How else could they expect us to accept the joke of a narrative surrounding Choksi?
If he come back door, send him back, if he was abducted, send him back! Either way, send him back Antigua. Anything else stinks of…
Bwa-Banday, you talking about sheet which is a bed covering or are you trying to spell s**t which is it???
My mother always warned me to be careful of Greeks bearing gifts. Could it be that the generous donation of vaccines from India to Dominica was for geopolitical influence?
Let Mr. Choksi return to his present homeland (Antigua & Barbuda). It is inexplicable and inexcusable to keep him any longer in Dominica, and to jail him? This is right out of the Chinese, Russian and Belarusian handbook. Using the court for clandestine purposes.
Dominica under Skerrit’s stewardship has descended into a very dark, iniquitous and ungodly place.
If the man’s health is declining, why remand him in prison? This absolutely inhumane and foolish by that magistrate. Mr. Choksi should and must be let go. If her father’s health was declining and was remanded in prison, would she be happy? No. Woman, have some compassion. The man needs help and should get help. Every man has a right to live, love is all that we have to give. At this point, you are still thinking that Mr. Choksi is a flight risk? Madame, you must be sick. This is a damn right abuse of power.
Choksi is trying to avoid Indian Justice. Unfortunately the UWP and it’s acolytes like Ibo France are trying their best to ensure that he remains in Antigua and not pay for his crimes of defrauding the Indian people. Why the UWP associate willingly with known criminals is a mystery……
What a sordid mess. It is worse than the trumped up charges against various UWP members for the so-called incitement of 2017 (still outstanding).
Why do those whose hands were caught in the cookie jar at Cabrits wish to continue to drag Dominica’s reputation through this slimey matter? He is a citizen of Antigua – dispatch him there post haste! His CBI citizenship in Antigua was obtained despite his activities in India – it is upon them to resolve Choksi’s removal, or not, to India through the appropriate legal means.
What rewards come to Dominica for participation in this foolishness (or, extraordinary rendition, call it what you will)? A rhetorical question, as any specific rewards will go only into select pockets. For the country as a whole, only another mark for its reputation of scant regard for the rule of law.
Magistrate needs to bring all legal parties to the table ASAP with the aim of achieving his removal forthwith to Antigua – charge, convict, fine, deport.
You remember John in Revelation 1:9-10, in the island called Patmos? Tradition says that his opponents boiled oil and when it was very hot they threw it on John and placed him in the isle of Patmos, so he could suffer and die their.
So, my question is and remember it’s just a question: was Choksi brought to Dominica to die or murdered? One thing though: remember God hates the shedding of innocent blood and on top of that, we would be opening our doors wider for the curses of God on our lovely isle
Get Well Soon Mr. Choksi. We cannot afford for you to die on our shores.
Listen! we cannot afford to let this man die in DA. especially if the investigation turns up evidence that we were complicit in some way in this whole affair.
Uncle, not even labourites that supporting you on this one here! Send Mr back Antigua, we doh want nothing to do with that business dere. After all them scandals your name calling in, now you dragging the name of Dominica even lower. Send mr back Antigua, make ur moustache padna clean his own dirty laundry!
One bad apple does spoil the whole bunch eventually, because the bacteria from that one bad apple will eventually spread to the others and infect them if it isn’t isolated. This is what has happened to the leadership in Dominca ever since the Double doctorate dude ascended to leadership in Dominca. The police even kill helpless civilians in their custody, the liar in chief disappears millions given to the Caribs by Chavez, $1.2 billion from the sale of citizenship unaccounted for over a year later, lies about how the international airport is to be funded for over 10 years of different schemes, therefore the lack of humanity, the lack of shame in how we treat others even Choksi who is under police watch by this magistrate is a symptom of the malaise which has spread into society following the leader. I wonder if she would be happy if one of her relatives was to be treated that way. What goes around comes around. She seems to forget that the judiciary is independent from politics.
I can tell you are CBI sick. You need some of that money to get well. Neither you nor Lennox will put your hands on that money. By the grace of God I wish Mr. Choksi well and a speedy recovery.
@ds, you doctor wannabe to try and diagnose someone as sick without an examination and vitals of the patient. And to make it worse you are even prescribing medication without instructions as to how to take said medication. I pity you, just as I pity the double doctorate dude. I’m not sick neither am I sick for money, so you and your puppet master can’t and will not buy nor influence me. Thus I’m independent and free to express my views because I’m not dependent on any clinic red or any other color. I’ll continue to analyze issues affecting my homeland and call out malfeasance wherever and whenever it’s made know to me through the news media. I challenge you to call out any wrong thing you observe in the country. No one is perfect, so don’t tell me you cannot find fault with anything that your corrupt idol undertakes. You would be telling lies just like him, and that wouldn’t surprise me. Birds of a feather flock together. By the way why are you hiding behind a pseudo name?
Johnathan, When you are accusing others of all sort which you have no evidence of, think first of why you fled the country!
@KID ON THE BLOCK, stop and think of the nonsense you just wrote. When someone flees from their country, do you know what that implies? No, Sir, Jonathan did not flee from anywhere. Get your head right. I, like many other migrants to the US and other countries was seeking better for myself and my family, because I could see from my knowledge that the mainstay of the Dominican economy, bananas, was doomed because the primary consumers, the British housewives, had switched their preference for the Latin American fruit. The WTO was supporting the American position that our trade in bananas was receiving preferential treatment and couldn’t stand. I’m glad I left when I did after making meaningful contributions to my country. What is your beef? I haven’t done anything illegal, not stepped on anyone in the process of improving my livelihood. My love of capitalism led me to the US. I guess you love the communism as practiced by your supreme leader. Look at his mentors and his actions.
Johnathan, my “BEEF” is, Satan cannot correct sin.
You should look in the mirror before you accuse people. All sin is sin just as all wrong is wrong.
You are no better than those you keep accusing.
@Kid, you seem to be playing guacamole. I addressed your idiotic comment and what do you do? You slikkitty sliding. You can’t handle intellectual stuff so you resort to emotional hogwash. Get a life loser.
@Kid, All wrong is wrong. I agree, then tell me why does your idol, Skerritt keep doing wrong against the constitution of Dominca and you keep supporting him. Are you hoping that your support will make his wrong right.
? He harboured Monfared in Dominca, that was wrong. He took the millions given to the Caribs by Chavez, that was wrong. He failed to pay land transfer taxes, that was wrong. He engaged Dennis Byron even if the constitution says that the commission is not subservient to anyone, that is wrong. I could go on but all you need do is search your conscience. Wrong is wrong
KID , that response could only come from someone who went hiding in the bushes when he should have been in school. Thoughtless, Meaningless, Senseless as ever so often.
You,….. kid, as usual, you complete avoid the pertinent issue and launch your ad hominem attack on a law abiding son of the soil. But what else could we expect from school drop-outs ……….? ANSWER:- Idiocy
Some people are allergic to learning they just can’t be helped.
Hi Kid, you and ds, gave Jonathan, a good kicking up his hairy well done boys!!!
Look NONESENSE in a foolish country and foolish people.
why are they not sending this man back to his country Antigua , if this man dies while in our care it will only get worst for Dominica as his family can sue for wrongfully detaining him , plus a can of worms will be opened , send this man out of here quickly people. he is not our problem, though the commissioner , prime minister and other officials need to come clean with the public .
The last thing Skerrit and Gaston Brown want is for Choksi to end up in the hands of India so he is not questioned about who he shared his corrupt stolen money with.. So in that case hiding him in the state prison that is well secured with babwire and armed forces is much safer than the Chinese/ Skerrit hospital and the worse case, if Choksi dies in prison it’s much better for those involved because is not Choksi they love but rather what is in it for them