The bail application of Jean Hubert Celerine, alias Franklin, was heard on Thursday 13 April 2023 before Magistrate Vidya Mungroo-Jugurnath, sitting in the Bambous Court. The accused is facing a provisional charge of money laundering. The Icac suspects him of having acquired a house in La Gaulette, valued at more than Rs 25 million, with money from drug trafficking and by using Rikesh Sumboo as a nominee in the transaction.
Yolaine Papain, Senior Investigator at Icac, objected to the defendant’s request. She gave three reasons to support her objection. These included the risk that Franklin might flee once he was free, the risk that he might destroy evidence in the case, and the risk that he might tamper with witnesses.
The Icac investigator said that the investigation into Franklin is targeting assets held by him through nominees and derived from the financing of drug trafficking.
Debate on the motion will continue 20 April 2023. Franklin is being defended by Mr Yatin Varma. Icac is represented by Dhannish Gunesh and Ghireesh Bundhoo.
