Court sets September 19 to hear whether the state will access digital information seized from Laura Valabhji |25 August 2022

The Supreme Court will on Monday September 19, at 9.30am, decide whether to grant the state access to digital information belonging to Laura Valabhji, as evidence in the case of illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

This digital information was first seized by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACCS) and the prosecution had some time ago made an application for the state to access the digital information for its ongoing investigation.

Mrs Valabhji had on August 24, 2022, filed an affidavit in reply to this application made by the Prosecution and the hearing of her motion before Chief Justice Rony Govinden could not take place yesterday morning as the defence team was not present. The Republic was being represented by state counsel George Thachett who was standing in for state counsel Steven Powles.

Mrs Valabhji, who was representing herself yesterday, requested that police detective Sergeant Davis Simeon and ACCS foreign investigator, Patrick Humphrey, appear for cross examination as there are a number of matters she wishes to clarify in relation to documents that have been tendered but were not properly exhibited.

Justice Govinden stated he would need to go through all the proceedings to determine whether the persons mentioned above should be present for cross examination on Monday September 19.    

It is to be noted that Laura’s husband, prominent businessman Mukesh Valabhji, along with former high ranking army officer, Leslie Benoiton, also accused in the case, were present in court. The defence team absent yesterday included lawyer Samantha Aglae representing Mrs Valabhji, lawyer France Bonte representing Mr Valabhji and lawyer Basil Hoareau representing Mr Benoiton.  

Meanwhile the three accused have been further remanded for another 14 days in custody until Wednesday September 7.

Retired Brigadier and former Chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) Leopold Payet and retired lieutenant colonel and presidential chief security officer Frank Marie, also accused in the case, are currently out on bail until trial.

Patrick Joubert