New Delhi:A magistrate court in Dominica on Thursday rejected bail plea of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi arrested over his illegal entry into the Caribbean island nation, local media reported.
Earlier, the High Court, which took up Choksi’s Habeas Corpus plea, on Wednesday had ordered that the businessman be produced before the Magistrate Court.
Choksi pleaded not guilty alleging that he was abducted and brought to the island nation from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda.
According to the local media reports, State Attorney Sherma Dalrymple pleaded with the court to not grant him bail, saying he is a 'flight risk' and does not have any 'ties' in Dominica.
To this, one of the defendant’s attorneys, Wayne Norde, refuted the Prosecutors grounds saying the fugitive businessman was not a 'flight risk' due to his 'health conditions'.
In her order, presiding Magistrate Candia Carrette-George sided with the Prosecutor and stated that given the 'severity' of the matter, she is not convinced that Choksi will stay in Dominica to attend his trial, Dominica News Online reported.
His bail was rejected and the matter was adjourned to June 14, 2021, in the Roseau Magistrate court.
Now, Choksi, who is one the accused in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB), will stay in Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) under police security.(UNI)