This Monday morning, the motions filed by Attorney General (AG), Maneesh Gobin, and Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), Rajanah Dhaliah, challenging the Private Prosecution filed against them by Vivay Kanun Pursun, were called before Chief Justice Rehana Mungly-Gulbul in the Supreme Court.
The legal representatives of the AG and the PPS have each filed a revised version of their respective motion, now including the Director of Public Prosecutions as a party to the case. Adeelah Hamuth, Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, has requested a postponement in order to review the case. She will state her position at the next hearing, scheduled for 21 August 2023.
The AG and the PPS are each seeking the annulment of the private prosecution brought against them by Vivay Kanun Pursun, and their summons to appear before the Curepipe court.
In his private prosecution, Vivay Kanum Pursun accuses the Minister and the PPS of having acted in concert on 12 September 2020 to illegally allocate 250.76 hectares of State land at Dayot and Mangin to the Eco Deer Park Association in exchange for a bribe of Rs 3.5 million. He also accused the AG of trying to pervert the course of justice by not resigning as minister.
Private Prosecution challenge against Minister Gobin and PPS Dhalia: prosecution and defence agree that DPP should be engaged in the case
Minister Maneesh Gobin and PPS Rajendra Dhalia’s Supreme Court challenge was heard once again in the Supreme Court this morning. Chief Justice Rehana Mungly-Gulbul and Justices David Chan Kan Cheong and Pravin Harrah had previously requested that the DPP be engaged in the case.
Both parties agreed to this request this morning and the case has been adjourned until 21 August, while the DPP’s office retrieves the affidavits and transcripts of the proceedings.
