23 Jul 2010

Former Fiji Prime Minister on bail after being charged with 12 financial crimes

6:55 pm on 23 July 2010

Former Fiji prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry has appeared in court in Suva, charged with a dozen crimes relating to money laundering and tax evasion.

Mr Chaudhry, who was Fiji's first Indo-Fijian leader, was charged with 12 offences relating to tax evasion and money laundering.

Fiji Village reports that no pleas were entered.

The 12 charges include the alleged failure to surrender more than a million US dollars in foreign currency over the past ten years.

Mr Chaudhry, who has served as Finance Minister in Bainimarama military regime, has been given bail but has had to surrender his passport.

He is to appear in court again next Friday.