Victorian Premier calls Puneet Puneet a 'coward'; will push for extradition

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the coward driver who fled to India to escape sentencing over a fatal drunken crash should return to Australia and face justice.

Fugitive Puneet Puneet, who jumped bail in Melbourne after a fatal hit and run, and was arrested in India four years later

Fugitive Puneet Puneet, who jumped bail in Melbourne after a fatal hit and run, and was arrested in India four years later Source: File image

Mr Andrews is travelling to India next week, when he is expected to bring up the extradition of Puneet Puneer with Indian officials. 

Puneet Puneet was a 19-year-old learner driver in October 2008 when he hit and killed 19-year-old nursing student Dean Hofstee and seriously injured 20-year-old Clancy Coker in Melbourne.

He was on bail and awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to culpable driving when he fled Australia in 2009 using a friend's passport and hid for more than four years until his capture.

Daniel Andrews says he will raise the case with Indian officials when he travels there next week.

"The fact that he in a cowardly act, scarpered, ran away from facing the consequences of his actions, speaks volumes for his character, the sort of person he is and I think everybody across Victoria would be pleased to see him sent back to do the jail time that he should do right here," said Mr Andrews.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews Source: Supplied
At the latest hearing in the Patiala District Court in Delhi on Monday, Puneet made a plea to the victims' families for forgiveness. Previously, he has appealed his extradition to Australia on grounds that he will face violence or racism, if sent there for trial.

But acting Premier James Merlino said earlier this week that Puneet must return to Australia, because, "The expectation of the Victorian community is that this individual is extradited to face justice in Australian courts. That's been the consistent position of the Victorian government. The premier Daniel Andrews will be visiting India next week. He'll be conveying this directly to the Indian government. This individual must face justice and he must face justice in Australia."

Puneet Puneet is expected to reappear in the New Delhi court on February 2, for the next hearing.

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2 min read
Published 12 January 2018 1:19pm
Updated 12 January 2018 2:11pm
By Manpreet K Singh

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