ACCS refutes lawyer’s allegations |09 May 2023

The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS), May de Silva, has refuted allegations made by Samantha Aglae, counsel for Mukesh and Laura Valabhji, in a ‘Letter to the Editor’ published in Seychelles NATION of Monday, May 8. In the ‘Letter to the Editor’, Ms Aglae claimed she was under surveillance.

Ms Aglae is counsel for the Valabhji couple since June last year in two alleged cases namely a firearms and prevention of terrorism case, and the second relating to corruption.

In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, Ms De Silva stated that “ACCS’ mandate is to detect, investigate, prevent and prosecute corrupt practices”.

“We refute any inferences or allegations made of surveillance on Ms Aglae by ACCS. We will uphold the law, protect the integrity of ACCS and our independence. We do not discriminate against anyone on religious, race, gender, political belief or disability grounds. Those are serious allegations and we believe that Ms Aglae should make a formal complaint to the police,” added the statement.

Trial for both cases is scheduled to start on Thursday. The couple was arrested in November 2021 in connection with the disappearance of 50 Million US Dollars granted to the Seychelles government by the United Arab Emirates in 2002. During a search at their residence in Morne Blanc, a cache of ammunition and arms was also found.

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