The Financial Crimes Commission Bill was voted on with amendments at 4.30pm on Tuesday. In his summing-up of the debates on the Financial Crimes Commission Bill, the Prime Minister insisted that the DPP “does not have the exclusive powers and monopoly to initiate prosecutions”. Pravind Jugnauth cited several judgments of the King’s Privy Council, concerning cases in other Commonwealth countries, to make his point. He also resorted to phrases of other illustrious figures from the legal world, like former DPP Cyrille de Labauve d’Arifat QC and Professor de Smith.
Pravind Jugnauth also refuted critics on the techniques of surveillance and the method of appointing the Director General of the future Financial Crimes Commission.
His speech to close the debate on the Financial Crimes Commission Bill lasted more than two hours.
There will be no political interference”, says Dookun-Luchoomun
“There will be no political interference in the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC),” says Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education spoke during the debates which continued this morning in the National Assembly.
Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun spoke about the process for appointing the Director General of the FCC, pointing out that this method is already in use in Mauritius. She went on to accuse the Opposition of confusing the public about the Bill.
“The powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions will in no way be usurped by the FCC”, the Minister maintained. “There is nothing to worry about,” she added.
