courtesy: India Today
Investigation has started under the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda into the alleged abduction of absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi to neighbouring Dominica on a complaint filed by his lawyers, Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the local media.
PM Browne said that Choksi’s lawyers gave the names of people involved in his abduction, to the police commission in a reported complaint. “It would be a serious matter if the said claims are true,” said the Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister.
“Choksi has filed a complaint with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to the extant that he was abducted. He made a formal claim through his attorneys saying that he was abducted from Antigua and taken to Dominica… so it is a report that police is taking the issue seriously and investigate the abduction, ” PM Browne said.
A report in the Associates Times highlighted the flaws of the theory put forth by Dominica opposition leader Lennox Linton, who reportedly claimed that Choksi was brought to Dominica in the Yatch Calliope of Arne on May 23rd, around 10 p.m. However, it was claimed by family of Choksi that he was in Antigua till 5 p.m. on the same day and it would be impossible to cover a distance of 12-13 hours in 5 hours or less.
According to Customs document, the boat had left Antigua at 10 a.m. on May 23rd, whereas his alibis said that he was at his residence till 5 p.m. which implies that Choksi did not travel by boat as claimed by Linton. Unnamed doctors of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital where Choksi is admitted, said that the nail injury is an old one while the other bruises could be new and might have been caused by a ‘slight push’.
On May 23rd, Choksi had gone missing from Antigua and Barbuda where he lived as a citizen since 2018. He was detained from Dominica for illegal entry after a possible escapade with his rumoured girlfriend. It had been said by his lawyers that he was kidnapped from the Jolly harbour in Antigua by policemen and then was brought over to Dominica on a boat.
By the orders of the Dominica High Court, he was brought before a Roseau Magistrate to answer the charges of his illegal entry, to which he pleaded guilty but was denied bail. The Dominica High Court had adjourned the hearing of the petition of habeas corpus filed by Choki’s lawyers. The reason said for his bail being denied was that Choksi has cases both in Antigua and Dominica, and the prosecution called him a “flight risk”.
Through his lawyers he has sent a letter to the commissioner of police in Antigua and given names of people who abducted him. He has demanded an investigation. His bail plea is scheduled to be heard next on 8th June by the Dominica High Court.