Businessman discharged of drug charge
ANadi businessman charged with importing illicit drugs in 2015 said to be worth $100million, was discharged by the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.
Praneel Chandran Reddy, 36, was overjoyed after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, meaning not to continue proceeding.
“Finally I’m relieved because the past three years have been the most traumatic, stressful and emotionally exhausting experience for me,” Mr Reddy said.
“Being in remand for 13 months also had its toll because it drained me psychologically as well. “My family too suffered because of this. Our reputation has been tarnished everywhere on social media.”
However, his family never lost faith as they stood by his innocence and he is glad all have come to a deserving end.
Mr Reddy acknowledged the love and support from his family members as well as from his lawyers. He can now start with normal daily operations.
It was alleged that the accused had unlawfully imported parcels containing methamphetamine weighing 79.3kg believed to be worth $100m.
Defence lawyer Wasu Pillay requested that the state also return various items confiscated from Mr Reddy.
“If there is no evidential value in it, then we should have it back,” he said.
The case was presented before Justice Sunil Sharma. Justice Sharma agreed with Mr Pillay and said that there were no grounds to hold the items any further.
The State had no objections on the release of items.
Mr Pillay also requested the court that the departure prohibition order on Mr Reddy be uplifted, bail bond money and passport are returned to him as well. Justice Sharma discharged Mr Reddy and asked the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to return Mr Reddy’s passport and the cash bond money. In addition, Justice Sharma also ordered that all properties from Mr Reddy be returned to him within 21 days.
Defence lawyers, Mr Pillay and Ronald Gordon were also content that the case had finally come to an end.
“The nolle prosequi has been granted after we made various representations to the ODPP in Lautoka and after a careful consideration of the evidence by the DPP’s Office,” Mr Pillay said. “Obviously, we are pleased with the outcome of the matter this morning.
“It not only reaffirms our confidence in our criminal justice system but it also vindicates Mr Reddy’s plea of not guilty which he maintained from the outset,” Mr Pillay said.
“In our system of criminal justice, due process has to take its course and Mr Reddy has had to live through the unpleasant, but necessary experience of a person subjected to our criminal justice system.
“We hope that the filing of the nolle prosequi not only brings closure to this issue as far as Mr Reddy is concerned, but also addresses the various rumours and speculative information that has been prevalent on social media,” he said.
“Mr Reddy has been a subject of discussion because of this alleged offence, but we would like to make it very clear that the Office of DPP and the High Court in Lautoka has discharged him.”