The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Satyajit Boolell, Senior Counsel, has been successful in his appeal against the judgment of the Intermediate Court exculpating Marie Lindley Savriacooty in a case of causing public mischief.

The vice-President of the Industrial Court, Mrs Ratna Seetohul-Toolsee, has last week found the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) guilty of breach of the Employment Rights Act on three counts and ordered the MBC to pay under each count a fine of Rs 8,000, totalising Rs 24,000.

Ex-AS sues ICAC and the State
Ramesh Koomara Parayag, former Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, after having been unsuccessful in his appeals both before the Appeal Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council against his sentence of six months’ imprisonment by the Intermediate Court for corruption, is now attempting his last  chance to serve his prison term for the time being.

Justice Paul Lam Shang Leen, sitting at the Supreme Court, has last week condemned La Sentinelle Ltd, the publisher of L’express newspaper, Jean Claude de L’Estrac and Raj Meetarbhan, respectively the former director general and Editor in chief and the present editor in chief of this written press, for defamation and awarded to the plaintiff, Dr Vasant Bunwaree, Rs 300,000 as damages.

Ex- Customs Officer sues SBM for Rs 175 million
Mardaymootoo Ramdoo, former Deputy Comptroller of Customs, and members of his family are suing the State Bank of Mauritius Ltd (SBM), claiming damages amounting to Rs 175 million for alleged wrongful acts and doings of the defendant bank.

Justice Prithiviraj Fekna sitting in Chambers has last week declined to grant an interlocutory injunction to Pentagon Universal Ltd restraining the couple T.F.S. and Lily Tsang Mang Kin, directors of companies, Tamak Distribution Ltd, Tamak Retail Ltd, Tamak World Ltd and Udis Ltd, from commercially exploiting any design identical to, similar to or passing off as (1) “heart logo Mauritius” and (2) “heart logo MU”.

Ramantoolah Hossen, the star witness in the case initiated by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against Cehl Meeah, the leader of Front Solidarité Mauricien, in connection with the hold-up at Bijoulux jewellery shop, came back from the statements he made to the police.  On Monday when the case was heard before the Intermediate Court, presided over by Magistrate Renuka Devi Dabee, the witness exculpated Cehl Meeah for his participation in this criminal offence.

Appeal Court – upholds sentence
Justices Bushan Domah and Prithiviraj Fekna sitting on appeal found last week the six months’ imprisonment inflicted on appellant Reshad Chedee fully justified because of his several previous convictions for similar offences. The Intermediate Court had found appellant guilty of possession of one tablet of Tramadol. Appellant appealed on three grounds: (a) the Magistrate failed to consider that appellant pleaded guilty to the charge; (b) the sentence is wrong in principle; and (c) the sentence is manifestly harsh and excessive to all intents and purposes.

Magistrate Wendy Rangan sitting at the Intermediate Court has rejected last week the point of law raised by Mr Siddhartha Hawoldar, counsel appearing for Amber Nath Mossae, journalist employed at the MBC TV and ordered that the case be proceeded on its merits.

Sued for having treated police constable on duty, Korimboccus, as  “petit con”(little idiot), barrister Sivasupramaniar Murday has been acquitted before the District Court of Curepipe having on the bench Magistrate Padmini Mauree.

Two-year sentence quashed on appeal
Abdool Hossen Somally will not have to serve his two years’ imprisonment inflicted by the Intermediate Court for having “committed a larceny by two individuals upon a minor” and for possession of articles obtained by means of a crime. Accused pleaded not guilty and was not assisted by counsel. 

Within two weeks debarred barrister Dev Hurnam registered a second set back.  Last time the Supreme Court, constituted of Justices Bushan Domah and Saïd Bhaukaurally, ruled out the ex-barrister’s motion challenging the presence of Justice Bhaukaurally on the bench to hear the second motion of Contempt of Court lodged against him (See News on Sunday  3.2.12).  This time his plaint for damages against Senior Magistrate Padmini Mauree before the Intermediate Court has been set aside by the bench consisting of Magistrate K. Bissoonauth and K. Hurreesing.