A man believed to be living in New Zealand has been summoned back to Fiji to face civil action by a couple he seriously injured in a car crash last year.
Fijian law firm Kohli and Singh have today placed public notices in New Zealand newspapers in an effort to find Zainal Mahmood Begg and notify him of the civil suit against him in Labasa, Fiji.
On September 10 last year Begg, who was 18 at the time, crashed into a car being driven by Mohinesh Prasad, in which his wife Niteshni Chand was a passenger.
Begg's car veered into the opposite lane and collided head‑on with Prasad's car.
Begg left the country and flew to Christchurch in November, after he was sentenced, and has never returned.
Last year Begg pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and was fined.
Begg had his sentence suspended given his young age but was ordered to pay the couple $750.
The couple are now seeking damages to help cover medical expenses, the time off work, the cost of their car and court costs.
Prasad said having to search for Begg to get their claim settled was adding extra stress.
The couple's lawyer Reema Raj told the Herald the couple's injuries were very serious.
Begg's family had not been able to help Raj get in touch with him so the court allowed a notice to be published to inform Begg of the proceeding civil suit.
The public notice stated the case was listed to be heard on September 8 and if Begg did not appear, either in person or represented by a solicitor, an order would be made as the court saw fit.
The New Zealand police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they were not involved because it was a civil, not criminal, issue.
Immigration New Zealand said it could not comment on the case without a privacy waiver from Begg.
