Latest news with #Dominica
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Diamond tycoon ‘kidnapped and smuggled onto yacht in honeytrap plot'
A diamond tycoon was kidnapped and smuggled via yacht across the Caribbean in a honeytrap plot, the High Court has heard. Mehul Choksi was taken from Antigua to Dominica as part of an alleged Indian intelligence operation. The 66-year-old claims his abductors hoped to extradite him back to India, where he is accused of involvement in the country's biggest bank fraud. He is suing the Indian government, claiming it plotted the kidnapping, alongside the five individuals said to have carried it out in 2021. Choksi is wanted in connection with Nirav Modi, his diamond magnate nephew. Modi, known as the Diamond King, saw his jewellery empire collapse in 2018 when Indian authorities accused him of overseeing a £1.3 billion 'Ponzi-like' fraud scheme. The 54-year-old has been in a British prison fighting extradition to India since his arrest in 2019. Edward Fitzgerald KC, representing Choksi, told a preliminary hearing that only India had the ability to carry out the kidnapping. 'The evidence points inevitably to India being behind this – they had the motivation, they had the resources,' he said. The court was told an investigation by Antigua police found five UK-based individuals – Gurdip Bath, Barbara Jarabik, Leslie Farrow-Guy, Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal – were involved. All deny wrongdoing. 'Interrogated by Indian agencies' The hearing was told Jarabik, a 35-year-old Hungarian luxury goods expert who was living in England, asked Choksi to visit her apartment on the island. However, upon his arrival, a group of men detained him and told him he was being 'interrogated by Indian agencies', it was heard. Choksi alleges he was beaten in a failed attempt to extort a false confession and implicate India's political opposition, which he said pointed to state involvement in the incident. He was then said to have been taken from the yacht by the Dominican coastguard vessel. Despite India applying to extradite him to his native country, he was freed on bail two months later. India's lawyer Harish Salve said in court filings that 'there is no evidence of India having anything to do with the alleged events'. India argues it has state immunity.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Fugitive diamond tycoon accuses Indian government of 'orchestrating his kidnapping' in Antigua in bid to extradite him over alleged bank fraud
A fugitive diamond dealer accused India of orchestrating his kidnapping to extradite him on fraud allegations, the High Court in London has heard. The claim is a the centre of a legal case brought forward by Mehul Choksi, 66, who is wanted in India over his alleged involvement in one of India's biggest bank frauds at Punjab National Bank. In 2018, the bank announced it had discovered alleged fraud worth $1.8 billion. The Indian government has since sought to extradite Choksi - who was arrested in Belgium in April – to face the charges alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, who has been in custody in Britain since 2019. The pair deny any wrongdoing. Choksi is separately suing the Indian government in London, arguing that the state was responsible for his kidnapping in Antigua in 2021, when he says he was abducted and taken to Dominica in an attempt to extradite him to India. His lawyers told the court that only India had the motivation and resources to do so. The court was told he kidnapped from the island of Antigua and taken by yacht to Dominica as part of a plot to return him to India in May 2021, the Times reports. As well as suing the Indian government, he is suing the beautiful woman he says lured him into a trap and the four men he claims masterminded the operation in London. Five UK-based conspirators were named by Antigua police as Gurdip Bath, Barbara Jarabik, Leslie Farrow-Guy, Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal following an investigation into the alleagtions. They all deny wrongdoing. Bath, 49, a diplomat representing the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis in India, is alleged to be the head of the operation. The Indian citizen is understood to have an £8 million mansion in Mayfair. Jarabik, 35, is a Hungarian luxury goods expert who was living in England and Farrow-Guy, 70, is a British citizen from Grays, Essex. Singh and Bhandal are both from Birmingham. The court heard that Choksi first met Jarabik in Antigua in August 2020 and in May 2021 she is alleged to have invited him to visit her luxury apartment she rented near his home in Jolly Harbour. However, a group of men burst into the apartment while Choksi was inside and told him he was 'being detained to be interrogated by Indian agencies', the court was told. Choksi's lawyer Edward said he was 'brutally beaten' including being 'punched, tasered to the face, blindfolded, tied to a wheelchair and gagged.' It was alleged that when Choksi was knocked unconsciousness and when came to he was still tied to the wheelchair and on board a yacht called Calliope of Arnes. Singh and Bhandal allegedly claimed to be agents for India's foreign intelligence service in the 'research and analysis' department. The court was told they filmed an interview with Choksi about the fraud allegations, telling him to point the finger at members of the Congress opposition party. Meanwhile Bath, Jarabik, and Farrow-Guy met the prime minister of Antigua before taking a private jet to Dominica, it was claimed. The prime minister allegedly said he would revoke Choksi's citizenship. Choksi was taken from the yacht by the Dominican coastguard vessel, it was alleged, before an official from the Indian high commission applied for Dominica to extradition. However, he was freed on bail two months later and returned to Antigua. Mr Fitzgerald told the court: 'The evidence points inevitably to India being behind this – they had the motivation, they had the resources.' India has denied involvement in any kidnap and argues it is protected by state immunity, saying the case should not be heard in the UK. India's lawyer Harish Salve said in court filings that 'there is no evidence of India having anything to do with the alleged events'. Harish Salve KC, representing the Indian government, said: '[Choksi's] account is rife with non sequiturs and unsupported assumptions.' He added that the alleged members of the kidnap plot were a 'rather unlikely band of state-sponsored conspirators'. Singh was described as as a retired ironworks' foundryman and Bhandal a former forklift driver who lives with his parents. Farrow-Guy was named as Bath's former driver who now lives in sheltered accommodation. The h
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Famous birthdays for June 9: Gloria Reuben, Michael J. Fox
June 9 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: -- Russian Czar Peter the Great in 1672 -- Musician Cole Porter in 1891 -- Musician/inventor Fred Waring in 1900 -- Musician Les Paul in 1915 -- Robert S. McNamara, former U.S. defense secretary/World Bank president, in 1916 -- Journalist Marvin Kalb in 1930 (age 95) -- Comedian Jackie Mason in 1931 -- Musician Jackie Wilson in 1934 -- Sportscaster Richard Vitale in 1939 (age 86) -- Writer Patricia Cornwell in 1956 (age 69) -- Religious leader T. D. Jakes in 1957 (age 68) -- Writer/producer Aaron Sorkin in 1961 (age 64) -- Actor Michael J. Fox in 1961 (age 64) -- Actor Johnny Depp in 1963 (age 62) -- Actor Gloria Reuben in 1964 (age 61) -- Musician Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) in 1964 -- Actor Tamela Mann in 1966 (age 59) -- Musician Dean Dinning (Toad the Wet Sprocket) in 1967 (age 58) -- Musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) in 1967 (age 58) -- Actor/musician Ed Simons (Chemical Brothers) in 1970 (age 55) -- Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in 1972 (age 53) -- Musician Matthew Bellamy (Muse) in 1978 (age 47) -- Actor Natalie Portman in 1981 (age 44) -- Actor Mae Whitman in 1988 (age 37) -- Actor Logan Browning in 1989 (age 36) -- Actor Lucien Laviscount in 1992 (age 33) -- U.S. Olympic gold medal gymnast Laurie Hernandez in 2000 (age 25) -- Actor Xolo Maridueña in 2001 (age 24)
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Travel + Leisure
08-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
I've Chased Waterfalls Around the World—but These Twin Falls in the Caribbean Stunned Me
I've always had a bit of a rebellious travel streak, defying the advice of the popular 1994 TLC song and chasing waterfalls around the globe. Perhaps inspired by childhood trips to Niagara Falls and Yosemite Falls, I've never hesitated to go the distance to witness the roaring power of natural cascades, even traveling to Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls and to both Brazil and Argentina for Iguazú Falls. Having witnessed so many of the greats—of all sizes, shapes, and flows—I became somewhat jaded to waterfalls. That is, until I visited the Caribbean island nation of Dominica a few weeks back. As soon as I arrived to Nature Island—which earned its moniker for its lush terrain filled with verdant rainforests, mountains, and stunning shorelines—all the gregariously welcoming locals asked me if I'd been to Trafalgar Falls. There was a sense of pride when they mentioned the waterfalls, and my curiosity grew deeper. While many waterfalls have names that are plural because they're made up of smaller cascades, I learned that what made this one so distinctive is that it was actually a pair of twin falls, tucked within Morne Trois Pitons National Park. A 17,297-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the park's 'luxuriant natural tropical forest blends with scenic volcanic features of great scientific interest,' according to UNESCO. With steep valleys, fumaroles, lakes, and volcanos, the unusual combination made it a rather distinct backdrop that this waterfall chaser couldn't resist. Located about a 20-minute drive from the capital of Roseau, the narrow road twisted and turned before reaching the modest visitors' center. From there, a pathway through the rainforest served as the opening act, drawing me deeper into the trenches of the valley hugged by the mountain peaks on all sides. Just 10 minutes into the walk, I was surprised to hear the gentle roar of the falls. Sure enough, just steps later, I was on a wooden platform, in awe of the sight in front of me. The two falls appeared simultaneously, almost as if they had choreographed their appearance, positioned on their stage back-to-back. The taller 125-foot one sat on the left and is referred to as Mother, while the 75-foot smaller (but stronger) one on the right is referred to as Father. (Many people reverse the nicknames, going purely by height, according to Discover Dominica.) With a bold granite stone between them, they appeared like two sides of a coin, so I was especially stunned to learn that they actually come from two completely different sources, with the Father Falls sourced by Freshwater Lake, whose waters flow through Ti-Tou Gorge. Meanwhile, the Mother Falls' water actually comes from the Breakfast River. That very fact made them even more impressive: it was an act of Mother Nature's happenstance that joined them at this point. (Sure I had seen multiple falls before, but just imagining how two completely separate sources led to the same spot and happened to create the mesmerizing sight was mind-boggling.) As I peered at the falls, I saw there was actually another pair of falls within them, like another generation of baby twin falls, within the lower cascades on the left. For the adventurously spirited, there's a hot springs pool within the Mother Falls where we spotted a pair of travelers climbing the rock scramble. The Dominican government's forestry, wildlife, and parks division says that while the 0.12-mile walk to the viewing platform is easy to moderate, the one down to the base of the falls is difficult and that 'a tour guide is highly recommended for accessing beyond viewing platform.' On this rainy day with slippery rocks, I opted to stay and enjoy the view of the pair together in the warmth of the thermal heat, thanks to the five volcanos in the national park. On my way back down, I passed the small village of Trafalgar, after which the falls are named, before stopping at Ti Kwen Glo Cho in Wotten Waven to soak in its natural hot springs pools. Getting to experience the warm waters of the area while also sitting right in the rainforest among local families truly felt like I was striking the best of both worlds. Trafalgar Falls is located about five miles east of Dominica's capital of Roseau, accessible through Trafalgar or Wotten Waven, and has a $5 admission fee for non-residents, payable on site.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Legendary journeyman finally retires at 46 after playing more than 900 games for 52 clubs
A legendary journeyman in football has finally called time on his career after playing more than 900 games for 52 different clubs. Jefferson Louis, who featured for the likes of Oxford, Stevenage and Wrexham, started his playing days back in 1996 with Risborough Rangers, before embarking on the ultimate journeyman career. His final club was Thame United, who the forward played 54 times for before hanging up his boots. The most time he ever spent at a club was two seasons, and he one placed for five clubs in one year in 2011, playing for Gainsborough Trinity, Darlington, Weymouth, Hayes & Yeading, Maidenhead and Brackley all in the calendar year. More of his clubs included Lincoln, Newport and Crawley, but he spent almost all of his career in non-league also turning out once for the Dominica national side in a World Cup qualifier. Although he has waved goodbye to his playing days, he is remaining in football, with the 46-year-old now taking up a role as assistant first team coach at Slough Town. Louis once claimed his journeyman status had worked against him. He said: 'People say he must be a rebel, Jefferson must have been rude. 'It's tarnished me. Some managers think I must be a bad apple.' His new boss, though - Slough head coach Scott Davies - is backing him to be a success in the dugout. 'Football these days for me is more about mentality than ability,' he said. 'Every player at the level has ability which has allowed them to get to this point, but it's so important that we, as a management team, can tap into their psychological side too. 'Throughout the season, individuals will need one-to-one chats when things aren't going as well as they may have hoped. 'And I strongly believe that with myself, Yella and now Jefferson joining the group, we've got all bases covered with the wealth of experience we have that we can now give back to the players.'
