Dominica PM On Claims That His Govt Was Involved In Mehul Choksi’s Abduction Is ‘Total Nonsense’

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has termed the claims that his government was involved in the alleged abduction of Diamantaire Mehul Choksi, wanted in Rs 13,5000 crore scam in Punjab National Bank, from Antigua and Barbuda as total nonsense.

According to the official reports, the Dominica government will allow the court to carry out its process regarding Choksi and gave the assurance that his rights and obligations will be respected.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit refuted the allegations of a plot between India and the Dominica government to kidnap Choksi from neighbouring Caribbean country Antigua and Barbuda, where he was staying since 2018 as a citizen, after fleeing from India and bring him to Dominica.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said to the reports- “To say that the government of Dominica and the government of Antigua along with India colluded in any way, give me a break, that’s total nonsense. We don’t get involved ourselves in those kinds of activities, those practices, not at all. I mean that is absurd and we reject it and it is unfortunate that anybody would want to propagate this unsubstantiated claim by a gentleman who is before the courts.”

He further said “whether it would be fair for a local who commits murder in Dominica and flees to another country, is allowed to roam free or instead be apprehended and sent back to Dominica to face his charges. All of us are subjected to the laws irrespective of our position or how much money we may have or how much we don’t have. And I believe that in this circumstance…Dominica has a right and obligation to apprehend this person and bring the person before the courts and let the courts determine.”

He further added “We here in Dominica with the opposition talking about Choksi but there is a young boy from Grand Bay Where there is an extradition request by the United States government on allegations that he committed a crime in St Thomas and we are mandated and obligated to apprehend him. And the police acted on the instruction of the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) arrested the young man and he is remanded at the state prison awaiting his extradition hearing. His lawyers will fight his case. If the courts believe that there is no reason to extradite him to the United States then he will go free.”