Arrest warrant for Zia’s eldest son over bomb attack on Hasina

July 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court on Sunday issued arrest warrants for the fugitive eldest son of former premier Khaleda Zia and 17 others over a 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally that killed 24 people and injured some 300 people, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

46-year old Tarique Rahman, who is now in London on a government parole for treatment since 2008, has been indicted for abetting one of the worst political violence in the country in decades that led to severe injury to one of Hasina’s ears.

Chief metropolitan magistrate Enamul Haque issued the arrest warrants for Rahman and 17 others for the attack on the rally of Hasina on August 21, 2004.

CID earlier today formally charged Rahman, the senior vice president of main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and 29 others of the attack after an “extended investigation” into the case.

“We have submitted the supplementary chargesheet after an extended investigation into the case,” CID’s special superintendent Abdul Kahhar Akhand told PTI.

Rahman is also an accused in several other criminal and graft cases pending for trial.

Akhand said their re-investigations suggested that operatives of militant Harkatul Jihad al Islami (HuJI) carried out the attack, which was backed by several stalwarts of the earlier BNP-led four-party coalition government and security and police officials.

Akhand said their protracted investigations had found the involvment of former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar, Zia’s political secretary Haris Chowdhury, former minister and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mujaheed and incumbent BNP lawmaker fugitive Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad.

The arrest warrant for Rahman comes weeks after a court sentenced his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko to six years in prison for money laundering.

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India Pantaloon Retail to raise 4 bln rupees

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 29 (Reuters) – Pantaloon Retail (PART.BO), India’s largest listed retailer, on Tuesday said it would raise 4 billion rupees ($86 million) by issuing convertible warrants to founders at 400 rupees each.

Cyclical Consumer Goods

Each warrant is convertible into one share within 18 months from the date of allotment, the retailer said.

($1=46.5 rupees)

(Reporting by Janaki Krishnan)

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General Finance Corporation Announces Extension of Its Rights Offering

June 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

PASADENA, Calif.–(Business Wire)–
General Finance Corporation (“General Finance”) (NASDAQ: GFN) (NASDAQ: GFNCW)
(NASDAQ: GFNCU) announced today that it is extending its ongoing subscription
rights offering. Accordingly, holders of the subscription rights will now have
until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 25, 2010 to exercise their
rights. The rights offering was originally scheduled to expire on June 15, 2010.

Under the terms of the rights offering, General Finance distributed, at no
charge to holders of its common stock, rights to purchase units with an
aggregate subscription price of $13,380,000. Each unit consists of one share of
General Finance common stock and a three-year warrant to purchase 0.5 additional
shares of General Finance common stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share.
Please review the prospectus contained within the registration statement for the
rights offering for a complete description of all the terms of the rights
offering.

During the offering period for the rights offering, any person who received
subscription rights from General Finance during the original offering period may
exercise those rights that have not already been exercised. Other than the
extension of the expiration date of the rights offering, all of the offering
terms described in General Finance`s prospectus dated May 10, 2010 remain the
same and apply during the extended period of the offering.

In the rights offering, rights holders who fully exercise their rights will be
entitled to subscribe, subject to certain limitations and subject to allotment,
for additional units that remain unsubscribed as a result of any unexercised
rights. General Finance retains the right to limit the exercise of
over-subscription privileges if such exercise would cause a change of control,
as defined in the agreements governing the indebtedness of its operating
subsidiaries Pac-Van, Inc. (“Pac-Van”) or Royal Wolf Trading Australia Pty
Limited and subsidiaries (“Royal Wolf”).

General Finance intends to use the proceeds of the rights offering to reduce
indebtedness and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

General Finance has engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to act as the information
agent for the rights offering.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these
securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such state. The securities may only be offered by means of a prospectus,
additional copies of which may be obtained, when available, by contacting the
information agent, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 105 Madison Avenue, New York, New
York 10016, toll-free: (800) 322-2885, collect: (212) 929-5500 or by e-mail
request to generalfinancerights@mackenziepartners.com.

About General Finance Corporation

General Finance Corporation (www.generalfinance.com), through its indirect
86.2%-owned subsidiary, Royal Wolf (www.royalwolf.com.au) and its indirect
100%-owned subsidiary Pac-Van (www.pacvan.com), sells and leases products in the
portable services industry to a broad cross-section of industrial, commercial,
educational and government customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the
United States. These products include storage containers and freight containers
in the mobile storage industry and modular buildings, mobile offices and
portable container buildings in the modular space industry.

Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, prospects of General Finance, Pac-Van and Royal Wolf. We believe
that the expectations represented by our forward looking statements are
reasonable, yet there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to
be correct. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward looking statements
contained in this press release are made as of the date of the press release,
and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of
the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise unless required by applicable legislation or
regulation. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned that
these forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties,
including those contained in filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission; such as General Finance`s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2009, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 and the prospectus for the rights offering.

General Finance Corporation
Charles E. Barrantes
Chief Financial Officer
(626) 584-9722 ext. 1007

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Now a Brit actress claims Polanski sexually assaulted her when she was 16

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 15 (ANI): British actress Charlotte Lewis has alleged that Roman Polanski sexually assaulted her when she was 16.

The director is currently fighting to avoid extradition to the US on child sex charges in another case.

Lewis, who appeared in Polanski’s 1986 film Pirates, appeared at a press conference in Los Angeles to claim that she was abused by Polanski “in the worst possible way” at his home in Paris in 1982, while he was a fugitive from his 1977 rape trial in the US.

She claimed that the director “forced himself upon me” in his apartment in Paris.

Allred said that her client was “ready to testify under oath if and when that is necessary”.

Lewis, who read from a prepared statement, said that she had travelled from London to give a statement to prosecutors in Los Angeles and inform that the 1977 alleged rape is not the only incident that Polanski’s lawyers have claimed he was involved in.

“I am also a victim of Roman Polanski. He sexually abused me in the worst possible way when I was just 16 years old, four years after he fled the United States to avoid sentencing for his crimes.

“Mr Polanski knew I was only 16 years old when he met me and forced himself upon me in his apartment in Paris. He took advantage of me and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since it occurred,” The Times quoted her as saying.

She added that she wanted him to “get what he deserves” but refrained from mentioning details of the incident or the effect it had had on her life.

Polanski pleaded guilty in 1978 to unlawful sexual intercourse with Samantha Geimer but he fled the country before sentencing.

Polanski was taken into custody in Switzerland in September on a US warrant and remains there under house arrest at his home in Gstaad on 4.5-million-dollar bail. (ANI)

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Driver accused of towie attack

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A central Victorian man has been taken into custody after allegedly attacking a police car and tow truck driver yesterday.

Police impounded the man’s car after he was caught driving at 155 kilometres per hour on the Calder Freeway at Malmsbury near Castlemaine.

Earlier this week, police issued a warrant for the 29-year-old after he failed to appear in court over another matter.

He is also facing charges including intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, after a brawl in Hepburn Springs near Daylesford last week.

A Melbourne man suffered a fractured skull in the brawl and was airlifted to hospital.

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Supreme Court grants relief to anti-Sikh riots case accused Sajjan Kumar

March 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 29 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday granted relief to Congress party leader Sajjan Kumar, who is one of the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, saying it would not intervene with a Delhi High Court order that granted bail to Kumar in the case.

The apex court raised several questions in this regard and said, “If the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would have wanted, they could have arrested Sajjan Kumar in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.”

Sajjan Kumar was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on February 26 in connection with two cases registered against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

The Karkardooma Court had on February 23 issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Kumar and slammed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its failure to arrest Kumar and others accused in the case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma had refuted the plea of investigating agencies to issue a proclamation against the accused on the ground that he was absconding.

Earlier, the court had issued two non-bailable warrants against Kumar, who had surrendered before the court on March 10.

The CBI, which arrested one out of 12 accused, said that it conducted raids at Kumar”s residence four times after the warrant was issued on February 17, but failed to apprehend him. It also asked the court to declare the former MP and other accused as absconders.

The CBI had on January 13 charge-sheeted Kumar and others in the two cases accusing them of making provocative speeches, leading to the killing of 12 persons in the riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. (ANI)

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Hayden Panettiere protests against whaling in Japan

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 27 (ANI): ‘Heroes’ star Hayden Panettiere was recently turned down for a meeting with a local mayor in Japan when she along with a group of environmental activists demanded to abolish the nation’s yearly dolphin hunt.

Panettiere visited the historical town of Taiji with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko, where dolphins are annually slaughtered on a large scale. She wished to meet the Mayor and the people from the local fisheries union, reports The Daily Express.

However, the actress was left disappointed when she was prevented from entering the town hall of Taiji.

Panettiere is a spokeswoman for the Save the Whales Again! Campaign.

“We are trying to peacefully come up with better ideas as to how to generate income and utilize the nature here,” she said.

She added: “We”ve been to Taiji before and it”s a beautiful place with beautiful wildlife. We just wanted to have a very peaceful and relaxed conversation (with officials).”

Panettiere had earlier visited Japan in 2007 to campaign against the same cause when a warrant was issued for her arrest. (ANI)

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Government tinkers with sedition law

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has introduced a range of amendments to Australia’s counter-terrorism laws, including one that renames the offence of sedition.

The changes also include giving police new powers to enter a place without a warrant if there is material that is a risk to public safety.

Mr McClelland says it is already an offence to urge force or violence against a group on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political opinion, if those actions would threaten national peace.

“The offence will also be expanded so that it applies to the urging of force or violence against an individual, not just a group,” he said.

“It covers the urging of force or violence even where the use of the force or violence does not threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth,” he said.

He says the changes help ensure the right balance in national security.

“The Government is confident that this package of reforms delivers strong laws that protect our safety whilst preserving the democratic rights that protect our freedoms,” he said.

“[It] helps prepare us for the complex national security challenges of the future.”

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‘Dirty tricks’ on drinks bill: Foley

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Treasurer Kevin Foley has accused the Liberals of dirty tricks just two days out from the South Australian election.

Mr Foley has been forced to defend taxpayer-funded expenses on overseas trips, in particular a visit to New York two years ago.

He said on Wednesday that a drinks bill at a New York bar was charged partly to taxpayers because he was buying his staff drinks after hard day’s work.

But the Liberals say the itinerary shows there was no official business that day.

The Treasurer insists all his expenses have been properly documented.

“It’s just a grubby attempt before the election for the Liberal Party to attempt to cause embarrassment to me and it just doesn’t warrant further comment,” he said.

Liberal finance spokesman Rob Lucas says Mr Foley clearly got it wrong.

“When Kevin Foley says that it’s a dirty trick and that it doesn’t warrant further comment, it’s a pretty fair indication that the Treasurer’s been caught out,” he said.

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Man busted on charges of stalking Ivanka Trump

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New York, March 19 (ANI): A man was arrested on charges of stalking real estate mogul Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka in Reno, Nevada.

According to Reno cops, Ivanka’s obsessed fan Justin Massler, 27, was busted on a New York warrant.

Justin, who lives on the East Coast, was in Reno to visit his mum Randee Massler.

“He is sick and has a history of mental illness,” the New York Daily News quoted Randee, as saying.

She added: “He never harmed anyone and hasn”t done anything other than write articles on the Internet.”

Justin’s blog talks about his desire to see Ivanka, 27, and that “we would hit it off and become the best of friends.”

A comic on the blog shows a homeless man believing that Ivanka could give him a new life.

Randee said: “He hasn”t come anywhere close to Ivanka Trump.

“He”s like a 10-year-old who has a crush on a movie star.” (ANI)

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Arrest warrant issued against ex-Pak diplomat for issuing fake passport to Indian

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.11 (ANI): An arrest warrant has been issued against Pakistan’s former Consul General in Houston (US) on charges of issuing a Pakistani passport to an Indian national.

Assistant Consul General Muhammad Naeem, who is under the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) custody for the last 17 months, told a three member Supreme Court bench that former Pakistani Consul General, Ghulam Rasool, has been asked to appear before the court while issuing an arrest warrant against him.

It may be recalled that Naeem was also arrested for issuing a forged Pakistani passport to an Indian national named Aziz Moosa.

The passport issued by Naeem was in the name of Sayyed Ali.

After the hearing the court rejected Naeem’s bail plea and disposed of the case with directions to the NAB to decide the case within three months, The Daily Times reported. (ANI)

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Bihar court issues warrant against Bal Thackeray

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bhojpur (Bihar), Sep 5 (ANI): A Sub divisional magistrate in Bhojpur in Bihar has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant (NBW) against Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray on Friday for his alleged uncharitable and inflammatory remarks against the Biharis.

Thackeray has made these remarks in his one of articles in Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece ‘Samna.’

Judicial Magistrate Rakesh Pati Tiwari issued NBW against Thackeray, after the later failed to appear before him in compliance with his July 7 order.

Earlier on July 7, Judge Tiwari issued a bailable warrant against Thackeray, but Thackeray failed to comply the orders by presenting himself or by his lawyers before the court to explain the stand.

A senior advocate Rajesh Kumar Singh has filed the petition in the court in 2008 accusing Thackeray of making comments against Biharis in his party’s mouthpiece. (ANI)

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Now, enjoy ‘swim date’ with Hayden Panettiere and dolphins – for charity!

August 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 29 (ANI): Move over food or movie date, you can now have a chance to go on a “swim date” with Hayden Panettiere and dolphins – all together!

The act is a part of the actress’ campaign to end commercial whaling in international waters.

The ‘Heroes’ star has offered her lovers a day in the seas with just dolphins and her in order to raise money for the cause.

The offer is set to go under the hammer on online auctioning site eBay.com and bids will be accepted until 4 September, reports the Daily Express.

Hayden has been a longtime campaigner for dolphins and whales.

In 2007 she even had a warrant out for her arrest in Japan after she joined in protests against the slaughtering of the marine mammals in the historic whaling town of Taiji. (ANI)

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Pak yet to receive Interpol’s Red Corner notice against Saeed : Malik

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug.27 (ANI): Pakistan has said that it has not received any ‘Red Corner’ notice from Interpol against Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed.

Interacting with media persons after a meeting with his British counterpart, Allen Johnson, here, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said Islamabad is yet to receive any red warrant against Saeed .

“If we get any red warrants, we shall look into the matter,” The Nation quoted Malik, as saying.

On Tuesday, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi who are considered the masterminds of 26/11.

The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists.

He reiterated that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud has been killed in US drone attack and claimed that he has ‘unconfirmed’ reports that Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman Mehsud too have been killed in the infighting for Taliban leadership.

When asked about the row between the PML-N and MQM, he said it was their own problem, however, he is ready to sort out issues if both parties ask him for help.

“The PPP can’t give its stance unless something comes to light. The party is impartial in this matter,” Malik said. (ANI)

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MJ’s death was homicide, concludes coroner

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, August 25 (ANI): The Los Angeles County coroner has reportedly concluded Michael Jackson’s death was homicide.

The King of Pop, who was allegedly being treated for insomnia, had lethal levels of the strong anaesthetic Propofol in his body when he died, according to court papers.

Details of the coroners’ findings were revealed when a search warrant affidavit was made public in Texas, reports the Sun.

Investigators have quizzed the team of doctors who treated Jackson, including his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, who, though not named as a suspect, is at the centre of a manslaughter probe.

A search warrant affidavit for Murray in California read: “The Los Angeles Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, Dr Sathyavagiswaran, indicated that he had reviewed the preliminary toxicology results and his preliminary assessment of Jackson’s cause of death was due to lethal levels of propofol (diprivan).”

The affidavit apparently revealed that Murray told LAPD detectives he had been giving the singer propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, and feared the star was becoming addicted to the drug.

But Murray, who has denied any wrong doing, reportedly gave Jackson a lower dosage of propofol on the morning of his death after several other drugs failed to work.

Jackson died aged 50 from an apparent cardiac arrest at his rented LA mansion on June 25. (ANI)

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MJ’s death probe: Cops discover secret email accounts

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 24 (ANI): Cops investigating Michael Jackson’s death have discovered two secret email accounts he may have used to buy prescription drugs.

The detectives said they have recently discovered the King of Pop operated the Gmail and AOL sites.

“They could hold vital evidence with regard to Michael’s death and the drugs he was using regularly,” the Mirror quoted a source close to the investigation as saying.

“Not only did he get prescription drugs through a network of doctors, it’s believed he may also have got them from illegal websites or drug cartels. The LAPD has to get a search warrant first and this takes a few days,” the source added.

It has also been said that police have got the number for a private mobile phoneline used by Jacko.

The detectives had not been told about the rarely used number until last week. There’s a possibility that the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker used the phone to contact people for his drugs. (ANI)

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Malaysian model mum spared cane for beer drinking

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, Aug.24 (ANI): A woman who was to be caned here today for drinking beer in a bar, has been spared by religious authorities.

“The warrant cannot be executed,” Sharafuddin Zainal Ariffin, the head of enforcement for the state of Pahang’s Islamic Affairs Department.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, would have been the first woman to be caned in Malaysia.

According to the Courier Mail, the Muslim model said she would now plan a pilgrimage to Mecca, and seeking solace in prayer.

She was earlier sentenced to receive six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to drinking alcohol at a hotel nightclub last year.

Kartika cried when the verdict was handed down last month but in an interview at her home in a small Malay village, she was composed about her fate.

“Sometimes I feel sad and stressed as I have tarnished my family’s name. But now after spending time reading the Koran, I feel calm and am not afraid of being caned,” she said.

The part-time model and mother of two, who lives in neighbouring Singapore, had called for her punishment to be carried out in public. (ANI)

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Interpol to assist Indian Government, set to issue notice against Hafiz Saeed

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug.23 (ANI): The Indian Government has reportedly approached Interpol and requested it to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Sources said that they expect the RCN to be issued some time next week, possibly by Tuesday.

The request from New Delhi is reported to have been made in the wake of a Pakistan court ordering the release of Saeed from nine months of house arrest on grounds that there was insufficient evidence to detain him in connection with his role in the 26/11 massacre in Mumbai that claimed nearly 170 lives and maimed more than 300.

Officials in New Delhi are reportedly of the view that Saeed should be chargesheeted and prosecuted for masterminding the Mumbai carnage on the basis of the six documents of evidence that they have handed over to the Pakistan Government through diplomatic channels.

Government sources said that the CBI, which acts as the nodal agency for all dealings with Interpol, has already written to the world police body, based on the 26/11 chargesheet, to get an RCN issued against Saeed who was let off by the Lahore High Court as Islamabad didn’t press charges against him.

Interpol issues an RCN against any accused after it receives all information and evidence against him from the country in which the crime has been committed.

The RCN will be issued on the basis of the non-bailable warrant issued against Saeed by a Mumbai court earlier and also all the evidences gathered against him by the Mumbai police.

According to the Mumbai police, Saeed is among the 35 people who provided training to all the terrorists who executed 26/11.

Pakistan has defended its refusal to act against Saeed by saying that India has not given evidence against him. (ANI)

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Melbourne Police launch manhunt for Indian killer, ready to come to India

August 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Aug.21 (ANI): Melbourne Police are planning to hunt down a drunk Indian driver, who is believed to have fled the country after he killed a 19-year-old university student in Melbourne’s Central Business District.

Inspector Richard Watkins from the major collision unit said Victoria Police would do everything in its power to pursue Puneet Puneet, including sending officers to India if necessary.

A County Court warrant was issued for the 19-year-old yesterday after he failed to appear for a court hearing where he was to plead guilty to culpable driving and negligent driving causing serious injury.

Police believe he left on a flight for India, hours after reporting to police on bail on June 12.

They allege Puneet was driving at 150km/h in a 60km/h zone and had a blood-alcohol reading of .165 when he hit and killed Dean Hofstee and seriously injured Clancy Coker, 20, on a City Road footpath in Southbank last October.

Sukhcharanjit Singh, 20, of Reservoir was yesterday charged with giving Puneet his passport and being reckless as to whether it would be used by him for travel and identity.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said today police would be applying to extradite Puneet as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Dean Hofstee’s mother Fran said she feared her son’s killer would not be returned to Australia to face justice because it would cost too much.

Hofstee, a nursing student, and Mr Coker were in Melbourne attending the Australian University Games when they were struck.

The Office of Public Prosecutions said in a statement that the cost of an extradition would not be considered in the decision to pursue Puneet. (ANI)

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