In the ‘Bal Kouler’ affair, the cross-examination of Patrick Soobhany continued this Tuesday 5th October 2021. Raj Dayal is being tried before the Financial Division of the Intermediate Court for soliciting gratification. His lawyer, Mr Jacques Panglose, asked the businessman Soobhany why he had not informed ICAC that it was Mr Yousuf Mohamed, who had requested a copy of the recording of his conversation with Raj Dayal, then Minister of Environment. The witness replied that he did not consider it important.
Mr Panglose also insisted on getting the name of the person who did the copy of the recording in Yousuf Mohamed’s chambers. At first, Patrick Soobhany replied that he did not remember the name before revealing afterwards that it was Yaasin Pohrun, then reporter at Radio Plus. “Why did you not reveal his name to ICAC ?” asked Mr Panglose.
Patrick Soobhany stated that he did not know his name at that time and later learnt it from the press. The case will continue on Friday 8th October 2021 where Yaasin Pohrun will testify.
As refresher, the former minister Raj Dayal had been arrested on 6th April 2016, after allegations made by Saheed Nawab (Patrick) Soobhany. The businessman had visited the ICAC’s headquarters on 22nd March 2016 where he alleged that Raj Dayal had solicited a contribution for activities in the Flacq/Bon-Accueil constituency on the sidelines of the Holi festival. In exchange, his application for an Environmental Impact Assessment permit for a parcelling project in Gros- Cailloux would be approved.
