In a startling discovery, the Corporal Cedric Williams, the lead investigating officer in the high-profile case of Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi has been allegedly taking regular bribes from Choksi’s wife, Priti Choksi.
The revelation was made by SKN News, a Caribbean-based news website outlining recent statements issued by Cpl Williams. The website confirmed that Williams provided detailed information to Priti Choksi about her husband’s case and could have received hefty and regular bribes from her to manipulate evidence to strengthen Choki’s narrative.
While mentioning Cpl Williams’ statement given on November 30, 2021, SKN News added that he admitted his closure relations with Priti Choksi and her family during the investigation. The website reported that their closeness during the critical stages of the investigation sparked concerns over the authenticity and the entire proceedings of the case.
As per Williams, “I was too close to Mrs. Choksi and her family in this matter and possibly telling her too much information,” hinting the strong influence of Priti Choksi over the integrity of the case.
Cpl Cedric Williams was also removed from the case after the discovery of his close ties with Priti Choksi, further cementing his influenced investigation into the case. SKN News outlined that after his removal, Williams gave a statement to private detective Oliver Laurence about the case, calling it procedural violations.
SKN News reported that before giving the statement to detective, he set a condition that his details would not be released to Antigua and Barbuda government, indicating his fear of repercussions and disregard for standard investigative protocols. He never reported any of his actions to seniors, suggesting that his actions could be charged under the purview of Section 18 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (2004) of Antigua and Barbuda, paving the way for criminal charges and disciplinary action against him.
SKN News added that, under Section 32(2)(B) of the 1952 Police Act of Antigua and Barbuda any behavior that undermines the authority of a senior officer can be considered a serious offense. This includes not only physical violence but also other forms of misconduct, such as unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. In the case of Cpl Williams, his actions, including releasing personal statements without permission, could be seen as a breach of duty and a challenge to the authority of the senior investigative team. If found guilty, he could face significant penalties, including a fine of up to $3,000 and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense.
Furthermore, if his behavior is deemed to be a breach of duty under the Act, it could exacerbate the legal consequences he faces, potentially leading to additional corruption charges. Legal experts suggest that this could have serious implications for Cpl Williams, highlighting the importance of adhering to protocol and respecting the chain of command within the police force.
SKN News also outlined Cpl Williams also admitted that Corporal Cedric Williams allegedly accepted a $20,000 bribe from Priti Choksi in exchange for providing a special statement that corroborated Mehul Choksi’s kidnapping narrative. This development suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate the investigation and compromise its integrity, raising serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the case.
A copy of Cpl Cedric Williams’ personal statement, which has been obtained by SKN News, reveals a clear bias in favor of Priti Choksi. The document shows that Williams exhibits a noticeable level of partiality towards Mrs. Choksi throughout. Specifically, in Section 27 of the statement, Williams notes that “Mrs. Choksi’s concern for her husband’s disappearance seemed very sincere,” a comment that closely echoes the Choksi family’s version of events.
SKN News added that discrepancies emerge when Williams revealed that Mehul Choksi’s car, which was initially absent from the location on the day of his reported disappearance, unexpectedly reappeared the following morning. Williams overlooked the possibility that this might have been a calculated move by Choksi’s associates to strengthen the kidnapping narrative.
This claim gains additional credibility in Section 34 of the statement, where Williams acknowledged that ‘Hani,’ a close confidant of Mehul Choksi, contacted him immediately after positioning the vehicle within the Jolly Harbour compound where it was later found.
As per SKN News, Cpl Williams seemed to rely on hypothetical scenarios to give more weight to the abduction theory concerning Mehul Choksi. In Section 50 of his statement, Williams stated, “After my briefing, the superintendent from the special branch informed the team that his office had received intelligence that Indian authorities were planning to come to Antigua to apprehend Mr. Choksi.” However, Williams deliberately chose not to disclose the name of the official who supposedly provided this intelligence, possibly to evade accountability or avoid potential contradictions.
According to SKN News, another significant inconsistency arises from Williams’ inability to reconcile his own remarks. He noted, “Choksi was advised by his lawyer not to be alone at any time due to these concerns.” If Choksi had followed this legal counsel, the credibility of his reported kidnapping becomes questionable.
In Section 68 of his statement, Cpl Cedric Williams mentioned that an individual named Colin had informed him of spotting a boat called “Calliope of Arne” near Antigua and Barbuda, attempting to associate it with Mehul Choksi’s disappearance. However, official records from the Customs and Immigration Department of Antigua and Barbuda directly challenge this claim.
The records confirm that the “Calliope of Arne” had already left the country earlier that same morning, well before Choksi’s disappearance that evening. This timeline clearly demonstrates that Choksi was still at his residence when the vessel exited the jurisdiction.
Adding another layer of complexity, SKN News outlined that a private investigator named Laurence revealed to our sources that Mehul Choksi had been planning his escape long before his alleged disappearance. According to the detective, Choksi had held one or more meetings in April 2021, about a month prior to his disappearance in May 2021. While specific details of these meetings remain undisclosed, their timing and context strongly suggest a premeditated plan to facilitate his departure from Antigua and Barbuda.
Investigators believe that a thorough investigation into these meetings could uncover vital new aspects of the case, potentially revealing the steps Choksi took to avoid facing justice.
