Mehul Choksi remains under Dominica police watch as court adjourns hearing until June 25

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 15, 2021

As jewellery tycoon accused of fraud Mehul Choksi remains in hospital in Dominica under police watch, a Dominica Magistrate Court has adjourned his hearing for alleged illegal entry until June 25.

Chief Magistrate Carette-George also ordered to keep Choksi under police watch at the hospital. Choksi will also be presented before the court for a further remand hearing on June 17, he said, the Press Trust of India reported. 
 
A Dominica Magistrate Court had originally planned to hear Choksi’s case earlier but he did not attend, local media Natureislenews reported. Choksi’s legal team instead submitted a medical certificate, from the Dominica China Friendship Hospital where is currently being treated, stating that he is suffering from mental stress and high blood pressure. 

While Choksi is accused of illegal entry into Dominica, Choksi’s legal team argue that he was kidnapped and brought to the island against his will. Choksi has alleged that a woman named Barbara Jabarica tricked him into meeting her at which point he alleged he was beaten and taken from Antigua to Dominica by boat against his will.
 
Choksi, accused of fraud in India at the Punjab National Bank, left India for Antigua in 2017 before news of the alleged fraud broke in the press. Choksi’s nephew and fellow accused Nirav Modi is currently in police custody in the UK and Indian authorities are attempting to extradite both to India to stand trial.