Ex-Indian origin Fiji PM charged with money laundering

Suva (Fiji), July 23 (ANI): Fiji's ex-Indian origin Prime Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry has been charged with a dozen crimes relating to money laundering and tax evasion, Fiji police said on Friday.

Fiji police arrested Chaudhry, who was held hostage for 56 days before being deposed as Fiji's leader in a nationalist coup in 2000, on Thursday morning.

The New Zealand Herald quoted Fiji police spokeswoman Ema Mua, as saying that Chaudhry appeared in Suva Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon and was granted bail.

"He's out on bail and he's got bail condition and he's to appear in the High Court next month," Mua said, later correcting the next court date to July 30.

She added: "He's to surrender his travel documents, passport, and he's to report in to the nearest police post to his home every Thursday."

He did not enter any pleas, according to the fijivillage news website. (ANI)