Recaptured escapee Deshwar Kishore Dutt returns to Naboro
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;
On the same day, it is alleged that Dutt dishonestly appropriated cash amounting
Second count:
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;
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
Second count:
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.