Advertisement

Driver who fled to India after killing teen says Australia is ‘racist’

India's Puneet Puneet has claimed Australia's 'racism' as his defence against extradition to face culpable driving charges.

India's Puneet Puneet has claimed Australia's 'racism' as his defence against extradition to face culpable driving charges. Photo: AAP

A man who fled to India after killing a teenager while drink driving in Melbourne is reportedly fighting his extradition, again claiming Australia is racist.

Puneet Puneet was on bail charged over the death of Dean Hofstee, but fled Australia using a fellow Indian’s passport in 2009. He was arrested four years later in India.

Puneet has made another plea in a New Delhi court not to return to Australia, putting up a witness who claimed to have been racially abused and mistreated while working in Australia, News Corp reported.

“Australians are biased towards Indians so I request Indian authorities to take care of its nationals,” chef Jayant Dagore told the court.
The matter has been put over till September 5.

Puneet was a 19-year-old learner driver when he hit and killed Mr Hofstee, 19, and seriously injured Clancy Coker, 20, at Melbourne’s Southbank on October 1, 2008.

Police estimated Puneet was driving at 148km/h – more than double the legal limit in the area. He also tested positive for alcohol.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.