Charges against Suva businessmen Ben Padarath have been withdrawn.

Padarath was charged with concealing false government documents and appeared at the Suva Magistrate Court today.

A two day trial was fixed for the 28th and 29th of November last year but it was delayed after the state applied for an adjournment, citing that the minutes for the pre-trial conference had not been confirmed.

Padarath’s lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry did not object to this but requested a final trial date which was set for today and tomorrow.

The DPP filed an affidavit to vacate the hearing today but Chaudhry objected, saying the reasons were too vague and general and not particularised.
Adding to this, no witnesses had been produced.

Charges against Padarath were then withdrawn under the criminal procedure decree section 166.