The High Court has refused an application by Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry for the release of his passport to travel to the US for his sister’s 70th birthday.

While making the ruling in court earlier today High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar said the reason for the travel and the inconvenience caused to the administration of justice has to be considered.

Justice Goundar said the court is concerned about the frequency of travel by Chaudhry.

He said the state counsel has no objection to the application but has expressed concerns about the frequency of travel by Mahendra Chaudhry while the trial is pending before the court and the insignificant amount of surety posted by him which is $1,000.

Justice Goundar said Chaudhry was charged on July 23rd last year and there have been a number of adjournments and applications since that date.

He also said the plea was deferred upon request by Chaudhry’s lawyer who was seeking better particulars on the charges.

He said the case was adjourned to 28th December last year but it did not go ahead on that day because upon an application by Chaudhry, the court permitted him to travel to Hawaii to attend the Pacific Dialogue Conference.

The court had earlier permitted Chaudhry to travel to Australia for medical treatment between 28th January last year to 20th January this year.

The plea was deferred to the 18th of last month but plea was not taken on that day because the defence insisted that they had not been provided with better particulars.
 
Justice Goundar said if the court allows Chaudhry to travel to the US, the plea would be deferred again.

He said the reason for the proposed travel is not a good one to vacate the plea.

The judge said taking of pleas should not be unnecessarily delayed and lack of particulars should not be used to delay the taking of pleas.

Justice Goundar has also ruled that Mahendra Chaudhry is required to attend court on the 17th of this month for to attend his arraignment, which is a legal process to answer to the charge.

Chaudhry is charged with 12 counts of money laundering, tax evasion and giving false information to Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.  

Meanwhile it has also been revealed that Mahendra Chaudhry has filed applications to quash the information and to stay the court proceedings.

These applications are yet to be heard.


Story by: Vijay Narayan