2 Dec 2010

Chaudhry bail exemption bid goes to Fiji high court

6:08 pm on 2 December 2010

Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions Office is seeking orders from the High Court to stop the Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry from accessing funds in his bank accounts in Australia.

Mr Chaudhry, who is charged with a dozen counts of money laundering, tax evasion and not declaring foreign currency, has made applications for variation of his bail condition.

According to Fijivillage, he is seeking unconditional bail, so he no longer has to report to police and his passport is returned for travel to Australia for medical treatment.

The DPP lawyer Ana Tuiketei has not opposed Mr Chaudhry travelling to Australia, but asked the court to make orders to ensure that he does not tamper with the funds kept in his bank accounts in Sydney.

However, his lawyer says the bail act allows an accused to access funds for various reasons.