The Dominican government has withdrawn the case of illegal entry levelled against fugitive Indian billionaire, Mehul Choksi. The acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, filed a “notice of discontinuation” before Chief Magistrate Bernie Stephenson to withdraw all criminal charges against Choski.
I do hereby discontinue the above-mentioned proceedings against the said, Mehul Chinubhai Choksi.
Sherma Dalrymple, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
In furtherance of the discontinuation, Justice Stephenson ordered that the EC$10,000 paid by Choski as condition for bail be returned to him.
Choski, a 63-year-old Indian diamond tycoon who is wanted by the Indian government for allegedly defrauding the Punja National Bank of India of more than $2 billion, was arrested by Dominican authorities for entering Dominica illegally on May 24, 2021. A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, Choski said he was kidnapped from Barbuda by Indian agents and beaten mercilessly before being put on a boat to Dominica.
Police authorities charged him with illegal entry and he was remanded in jail until he was moved to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) due to failing health. His detention generated lots of public outcry and uprising in the country and his lawyers ultimately filed for bail; the bail applications were declined but when his health deteriorated miserably, he was granted permission to seek medical treatment outside Dominica.
Choski did not return to Dominica to answer the charges against him at the appointed time, but his lawyers stated that this was due to his grave health conditions. But when the DPP withdrew the case against the Indian on May 17, 2022, his lawyers expressed delight at the development and reaffirmed their client’s innocence.
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. Mr. Choksi’s legal team continues to pursue all avenues for justice to redress the human rights violations committed against him. Mr. Choksi hopes that those responsible for his kidnapping from Antigua on May 23rd, 2021, will be brought to justice.
James Lynch, Spokesman for Mehul Choksi
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