In the Supreme Court: SBFA case |01 February 2022

ACCS, CID ordered to release seized documents before accused reappear in court

In the case of the Small Business Financing Agency loan scandal that was again before the Supreme Court yesterday morning, the judge has ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles and the criminal investigation department within the police force to release some documents before the accused in the case reappears in court on February 21.

The three accused in the case including its chief executive Rosanda Alcindor who has been charged with different offenses including abuse of power, corruption and destruction of documents, appeared in court yesterday morning when they were expected to plead in the case. But the new lawyer representing Ms Alcindor informed Judge Melchior Vidot that Ms Alcindor was not ready to plead because she has not had access to certain important documents that her sister lawyer Laura Valabhji was consulting to prepare her defence but which were confiscated during the investigation in the missing US $50 million case.

There are also documents that the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) said it has submitted to the Ombudsman for safe keeping.

Judge Vidot has ordered that all the documents be released before the accused reappear in court on February 21.

As for the other two accused in the case, one is facing charges of abuse of position and corruption while the other is facing charges of plotting to destroy official documents.

Meanwhile, present in court yesterday, the two individuals who have agreed to pay a caution for Ms Alcindor in the case of abuse of power and taking public funds, have been warned of the serious implications if Ms Alcindor does not appear in court.

Compiled by Marie-Anne Lepathy