Prison Escapee Deshwar Kishore Dutt who escaped from lawful custody in December last year pleaded not guilty to one count of escaping from lawful custody while appearing at the Nadi Magistrates court this afternoon.

Dutt appeared at the Nadi Magistrates court in a special court sitting after his arrest by the police task force team on Wednesday.

He was arrested from a mangrove swamp in Vuda Lautoka.

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

Dutt’s plea for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary and theft has been deferred as he wants to engage with a counsel.

The matter has been adjourned to the 17th of this month.

However, he pleaded not guilty to one count of escaping from lawful custody and one count of serious assault.

This matter has been adjourned to March 5th.

The matter has been transferred to the Lautoka High court.

Magistrate Mosese Naivalu has ordered Dutt to be taken to the Naboro
Maximum Prison to serve his 15 year sentence for aggravated robbery.

This sentence was handed in absentia as Dutt had escaped from the Suva High court in April last year –a day earlier of his 15 year sentence.

He was later arrested in May after a team of police officers foiled a robbery at a warehouse, located along the Nadi Back Road.