DOMINICA’S ALTERNATIVE PEOPLE’S PARTY JOINS CHORUS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN RESOLVING CHOKSI SITUATION
Another political party in Dominica is calling for transparency and justice in the Mehul Choksi matter, as Scotland Yard has reportedly commenced its own investigations into the case.
According to legal documents displayed as evidence, some of the players involved – at least four – are United Kingdom residents.
A statement from the Alternative Peoples’ Party (APP) says it is aware that the Government of India is seeking to have Choksi returned to the country to stand trial on several charges.
While acknowledging that these allegations are serious, the APP says there must be some level of responsibility and public transparency in resolving the situation.
The party says the legal system should function to its full capacity in dispensing the best legal remedy to the Choksi matter.
The APP notes that if the Indian man, who is now an Antiguan citizen, is culpable, then he should pay the penalty for the alleged crimes. However, the law must be “well represented in dealing with the accused, and all those involved in the unfolding fiasco,” it says.
The party says “it is visually apparent that Mr. Choksi sustained physical injury, and there have been media reports which support the same.” Therefore, it is calling for Choksi’s protection while he is in legal custody in Dominica.
The APP also reminds the Dominica authorities that “Article 5 of The United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, to which Dominica is a signatory, declares that ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.’”
The party hopes that justice will have been served at the conclusion of the Choksi matter, and that Dominica’s image will be safeguarded through what it calls this “diplomatic impasse.”
Meanwhile, Choksi’s legal team will return to the Dominica High Court on Thursday, June 10, at 11 a.m., for a hearing on the cross examination of witnesses, while the application for bail – related to the illegal entry matter – will be heard on Friday, July 11, at 9 a.m.
