Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has hired Justice Abroad in London to file cases against his alleged abductors, who are British nationals.
The legal team of Mehul Choksi in London has approached the Metropolitan Police under the “universal jurisdiction” provision to investigate his alleged kidnapping from Antigua and Barbuda to neighbouring Dominica, his lawyer Michael Polak said.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Mehul Choksi’s lawyer Michael Polak questioned the motive of the abductors. He said his client was “unlawfully renditioned” from Antigua & Barbuda to Dominica so he loses the right to appeal at the UK Privy Council.
Giving details about the alleged plan, the lawyer alleged that the female friend of Mehul Choksi, Barbara Jabarica, had “lured” him to her AirBnb accommodation which she had ensured had docking space for a “small boat”.
Polak called it a “pre-planned attempt to kidnap”. He showed an email conversation between Barbara Jarabica and the AirBNB owner. Mehul Choksi’s lawyer claimed that Barbara had enquired if there was a place for docking a small boat in the backyard. Polak added that she had discussed taking two adjoining properties after getting confirmation about a docking place for boats.
The lawyer alleged that Barbara Jabarica left Antigua and Barbuda in a private plane for Dominica at 7.26 pm.
Regarding the case registered in London, Polak said the motive for removing him from Antigua and Barbuda was to “diminish his protection under the law. “
“In Antigua, he has the right to appeal to the privy council in London. In Dominica, he does not have that protection. The motive behind the kidnapping could not be clearer,” said Polak.
He added, “I think the motive really speaks for itself. It is very important thing to look at. India obviously wants to try to move Choksi to India. Had he signed a piece of paper that said he had already been there? The fact that there was an Indian plane in Dominica soon after shows what was going on here.”
Elaborating on this, Choksi’s lawyer added that while Antigua is still part of the UK Privy Council, Dominica is not. “The judicial committee of the Privy Council, which is the highest court of appeal for a number of Commonwealth, ex-Commonwealth states… It’s the highest court of appeal for those states who have chosen to remain. When any country wants to leave the privy council, like communicated, nobody from the British establishment stands in their way… So it’s a choice for the people of the Commonwealth countries, whether they want this right. And the Antiguan people were given that choice and they clearly chose to keep the privy council.”
The lawyer also indicated that Choksi was tortured.
“The process is with the Metropolitan Police and we will let them carry out their investigations. We say in this case there is evidence of torture,” he said.
He also rejected statements from the Dominican side, claiming that it took them a few days to ascertain Choksi’s identity.
“Dominican authorities, we believe, knew exactly who they were receiving from the coast guard. Anything else just doesn’t bare any credence. He was brought for a purpose to remove his rights in Antigua and we say any statement from the Dominican side that they didn’t know who he was is not true. He told them who he was. He was denied access to counsel for three days.”
Reposing faith in the British system, he said, “The Metropolitan Police has a specialised war crimes team who are trained to investigate international matters. So, they know how the law works, they know how to investigate this kind of case. We have faith in them carrying out proper investigations.”
In the complaint, Polak has reportedly named Gurdip Bath, Gurjit Singh Bhandal and Gurmit Singh besides Jabarica. Bath and Bhandal are citizens of St Kitts and the UK respectively, while Singh is an Indian national residing in the UK.
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Ok so Dominica was chosen because instead of an appeal to the Privy counsel he would have to appeal to the CCJ? Seems like loser talk and its shameful that the former AG of A&B, a CCJ proponent, allows himself to be part of this smut. Justin, time to send Jonah overboard. The plane from India landed, may 28 (Qatar Executive flight A7CEE left the Delhi airport at 3.44 am on May 28 and reached Dominica at 1.16 pm local time) days after Choksi was found ( 11.30pm on May 24 on the bayside near the jetty at Toucarie Bay ) in Dominica. All this smut from his lawyers show desparation
The only desperation I see is you .
You that don’t think for a second that somebody in this Government had no finger print on this none whatsoever .
Who this? Another aggrieved irresponsible person who needs a conspiracy to feel good? If A&B government wanted to rid themselves of this germ, he would be in jail in India no later the next day. Newspapers in A&B would have made it headline for no more than a week. Would not be the first time we would have quickly deported a wanted felon(hence there is institutional knowledge of how to quickly dispose of garbage)
TENMAN you write such nonsense it is mind boggling. Ayoushie was quickly deported to the US because he did not challenge his deportation in our court. The situation with Choksi is quite different since he has challenge the government every step of the way. The same government that provided him safe haven and even police protection in the early part of his sojourn in Antigua. The facts and law are so clear in this matter, yet you continue to promulgate your UTTER NONSENSE. Have you forgotten that initially the Antigua government said to India that it was a sovereign country and its law must be followed. Though correct, my dear Boy all that was said since the government was trying to protect Choksi then. Maybe at that some of your high official friends were benefitting from Choksi’s largesse. The government has now made an about face turn. Sometimes I really do not want to comment on the total nonsense that you, FROM THE SIDELINE and JUST SAYING write but it is really difficult since I ABHOR NONSENSE.
*Maybe at that time some of your high official friends ….
Tenman: Are you now Gaston Browne. You like Gaston have all of the inside tracks into this Choksi matter. I am just hoping we do not end up with crap on our faces as a Nation.
London bridge is falling down falling down falling down.
London bridge is falling down my fair lady.
Take the key and lock them up lock them up lock them up..
Take the key n lock them up ..my fair lady..
Truth will reveals .
Justice for Nigel Christian
World dictator traitor tyrant liar Gaston Browne curtains soon coming to a close. 1st the shooting of a customs officer outside his home. Next the abduction and murder execution style murder of Nigel Christian while investigating the “forged” signatures at the Port. I wonder what the Port manager is scared too.
All the criminals in govt will soon have to answer for their indiscretions, non-transparency and illicit dealings.
All those pieces of shit only represent their financial accounts using us as financial slaves.
Vote wisely.
Now we have this person who was paid to get involved with the abduction and kidnapping of Choksi.
World dictator traitor tyrant liar Gaston Browne getting desperate. Another idiot in the form of Skerrit from Dominica now involved and will go down with world dictator traitor tyrant liar Gaston Browne.
This Tenman person have sense? Maybe u need 10 brains to figure out this clear case of kidnapping n torture.
STRAIGHT UP Tenman has more sense than ordinary people like you and me can comprehend. He has so much sense he should be living on another planet, millions of light years from earth and advanced beyond our imagination.
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