In the view of Justices Iqbal Maghooa and Shameem Hamuth-Laulloo, there is sufficient evidence to support Senior Magistrate Vidya Mungroo-Jugurnauth’s grounds of objection to deny bail to Jean-Hubert Célerine, alias Franklin. Franklin challenged the decision of the Rivière-Noire Court, which has provisionally charged him with money laundering.
The two judges added that, in their view, there was no condition that could reduce the risks mentioned, i.e. the risks of flight and interference with evidence and witnesses, to negligible levels.
The judges acknowledge that in some recent judgements, the Court has ordered the use of a mobile phone tracking system. But they added that they were not convinced that this method was effective. In their view, this condition would not have been appropriate in this case.
For all these reasons, they rejected Franklin’s Bail Review. Nevertheless, they asked ICAC, which, along with the police and the DPP, was one of the three co-defendants, to complete its investigation within a reasonable time.
Franklin has been provisionally charged with money laundering in the Rivière-Noire Court. The judgement states that as of 23 October 2023, Franklin had not been confronted with any of his alleged “nominees” or his alleged contacts abroad.
