A 61 year old former Fiji citizen appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today for defrauding the American government of nine million US dollars between 1995 and last year.

Anil Maharaj, who used to reside in Las Vegas, is alleged to have evaded millions of US tax dollars and was involved in laundering large sums of money.

Magistrate Ajmal Gulab Khan has remanded him in custody till Monday when he will decide on his bail application.

DPP lawyer Ana Tuiketei asked Magistrate Khan that Maharaj be sent back to America so his trail can start in the Nevada District Court which is pending from last year.

However, Maharaj's lawyer Sophia Shah insisted that they prefer the trial to proceed in Fiji.

Magistrate Khan has also ordered police to search for Maharaj's passport which according to Maharaj is missing.

The case will resume on Monday.