MAHENDRA Chaudhry’s family could not hold back their emotion after he avoided a prison sentence yesterday but copped a hefty $2m fine instead.
Son Sachin Chaudhry said for the past four years, the family had been trying to be strong and supportive of their father after he was charged with the three counts of breaching the Exchange Control Act.
He said it had not been a bad Friday after all because they had been preparing for the worst.
“As you know, the sentence could have been a prison sentence. He is not going to prison assuming that he pays up the fine,” Mr Sachin said.
“He is 72 years old and we want him at home, not in prison so I feel we are thankful at this point.
“We are happy to have him at home and this is a burden lifted off our shoulders — for us his family.”
He said not anybody would want to entertain the thought of their father or grandfather being in a jail cell for almost two years.
Chaudhry said he would only appeal his sentence on the advice of his lawyers.
“We are studying the sentence and I am relieved that it’s all over now,” he said.
“It’s been going for the last four years and it’s a great relief for my family and myself.”
He said the sentence had allowed him to concentrate on other important work he had to do for his country.
