Providence, Seychelles: On 19th May 2022, at the Supreme Court, the Anti-Corruption CommissionSeychelles (ACCS) substituted existing charges brought against Mukesh Valabhji and Sarah Renerelating to corruption, abuse of authority of office and money laundering following a notice ofmotion being served. There are in total 15 proposed charges: 11 against Mukesh Valabhji and fiveagainst Sarah Rene, including one charge in which they are jointly charged.
Amendments made by the National Assembly to the Anti-Corruption Act gave the authority to theACCS to prosecute conspiracy cases that the Attorney General already retained, thereby closingan administrative loophole in the legislation.
The case has been adjourned until 30th June for the accused parties to consider their pleas.Charges were withdrawn against Maurice Loustau-Lalanne and Lekha Nair, pursuant toagreements in principle between each of them and the Commissioner of the ACCS that they willgive evidence for the prosecution in this case.
The ACCS withdrew the charges currently brought against Laura Valabhji, pending furtherinvestigation, responses from foreign jurisdictions to its numerous evidential requests andfinancial details, and a review of the digital material seized in the investigation of which thereare over 500 seized electronic devices - and the sift of the sequestered material that is awaitingconsideration of a legal professional privilege review.
ACCS Commissioner May De Silva said "The substituted criminal charges put before the courttoday are a continuation of the complex and extensive investigation the ACCS is undertaking intothe decades that Mukesh Valabhji held public office. Throughout this lengthy investigation wecontinue to uncover more evidence, and as other citizens of Seychelles come forward, we willleave no stone unturned, wherever in the world it is has been hidden. The message must go outthat crime does not pay and that no one is untouchable."
