The Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court has awarded the fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi bail on medical grounds. Choksi, a prime suspect of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, has been granted permission to travel to neighboring Antigua and Barbuda.
The Dominica Supreme Court made it clear that Choksi was given bail “solely for medical treatment in Antigua”.
Mehul Choksi (62) was arrested in the Caribbean country of Dominica earlier this year Illegal entry charges. Wanted by Indian authorities in connection with the multi-crore PNB fraud, Choksi had lived in Antigua since 2018.
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Two matters concerning him are being heard by the Dominican High Court. The first case concerns his application for bail, the other an application for admission to judicial review. The legal proceedings against him in the case of illegal entry and the judicial review request will be postponed until Choksi has confirmed his fitness to travel.
Mehul Choksi will be tried in the District Court in Roseau, Dominica on June 2, 2021 (Photo Credits: India Today)
On Monday, the Dominica High Court approved a joint consent order that allows Mehul Choksi travels to Antigua. The matter was led by Judge Bernie Stephenson.
Judge Stephenson said Mehul Choksi was allowed, with consent, to travel to Antigua for medical care. He must return to Dominica to appear in the illegal entry trial against him, the judge added.
Choksi was asked to leave a deposit of 10,000 EC (East Caribbean Dollars).
Documents accessed by India Today show that Doctors recommended by Mehul Choksi Neurologists based in Antigua or the United States for his treatment. Doctors suspected that Choksi had a number of underlying or comorbidities. His medical reports also state that he was allegedly subjected to electric shocks.
Mehul Choksi practically appeared before the High Court from his ward at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Roseau.
Dominica court allows Mehul Choksi to travel to Antigua#News today (@sardesairajdeep) pic.twitter.com/f3A2JTHe8Z
– IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 12, 2021
His legal team was led by Douglas Mendes, a senior counsel from Trinidad. Other attorneys on Choksi’s legal team include Zena Moore Dyer, Julien Prevost, Gina Dyer Munro, Wayne Norde, and Cara Shillingford Marsh.
The state of Dominica was represented by Lennox Lawrence and Jodi Luke in the case of Mehul Choksi’s bail request. At the same time, Lawrence, Luke, and Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan were arguing on behalf of the state in judicial review.
(With input from Arvind Ojha)
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