Inmate Deshwar Kishore Dutt who escaped from lawful custody in December last year appeared in the Lautoka High Court yesterday.

Dutt made his first appearance in the Lautoka High Court yesterday afternoon after the matter was transferred from the Nadi Magistrates Court.

Dutt is charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft, and serious assault and escaping from lawful custody.

Dutt had been on the run last year and was arrested two weeks ago.

He was arrested from a mangrove swamp in Vuda, Lautoka.