Recaptured inmate Deshwar Kishore Dutt is back behind bars after he appeared in a special court sitting at the Nadi Magistrates Court yesterday.

He faces charges relating to rob­bery and theft. It is alleged that he committed the offences when he was on the run. He is also facing one charge of allegedly escaping from lawful custody.

Dutt appeared before Magistrate Mosese Naivalu, who has referred his cases to the Lautoka High Court on January 17 for the al­leged aggravated robbery charges, and on March 5 on the charge of allegedly escaping from lawful custody.

Dutt was transported back to Naboro Maximum Prison where he had been serving a sentence of 15 years before he allegedly es­caped from custody on December 15, 2017.

The escape took place at Nadi Magistrates Court while he was attending a court case. He was being guarded by Corrections Of­ficer Paulo Ratumaikoro.

Dutt limped into court yesterday with injuries to both feet and spot­ted a blackeye. He was also hand­cuffed.

When asked by the magistrate, Dutt informed the court that he would rather enter a plea on the alleged aggravated robbery cases later.

However, Dutt pleaded not guilty to the charges of escaping from lawful custody and causing se­rious assault to Police officer Pauliasi Boseiwaqa in due execu­tion of his duty.

Divisional Senior Police Prosecu­tor ASP Anil Prasad asked that Dutt remain handcuffed in the dock labelling him a high-risk in­mate who managed to escape from Police officers while awaiting a court case. Magistrate Naivalu al­lowed this.

DETAILS OF DUTT’S ALLEGED AGGRAVATED ROBBERY CHARGES:

First case:

First count: On December 22 last year, it is alleged that Dutt as­sisted by others, entered the house of Mohammed Aiyub as tresspass­ers with intent to commit theft;

Second count: On the same day, it is alleged that Dutt dishon­estly appropriated cash amount­ing to $9000 in US, Australian and New Zealand currencies plus oth­er valuables including a laptop, gold bangles, web camera, hard drive, imitation jewellery, valued at $34,317.00;

Second case:

First count: Between December 29 and 30, in Nadi, Dutt and others while armed with a kitchen knife and axe allegedly robbed Bhaguty Prasad’s mobile phone and a torch light both valued at $109;

Second count: Between Decem­ber 20 and 30 last year in Nadi, Dutt and others armed with a kitchen knife and an axe allegedly robbed Jai Reddy of assorted jew­elleries valued at $208,079, an ADI­DAS backpack valued at $163, mo­bile phones and gadgets valued at $938, perfume worth $259, a Toyota Prius car with registration num­ber JC367 valued at $17,000 and cash amounting to $10,000.

Dutt was recaptured on Janu­ary 3 in Saweni, outside Lautoka, buried in a swamp. Police officers had been following leads on his whereabouts.

Police road blocks had been set up in an effort to recapture him.

Dutt also told the court that he would get private legal help after his former lawyer Adi Litia Vatei­tei was taken off his case.

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa

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