Anse Royale Magistrate Court reopens |04 May 2016

The Magistrate Court in the Anse Royale district reopened yesterday morning after being closed for some seven years.

Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey opened the court which will be headed by recently appointed Magistrate Jessica Kerr.

“The number of cases has increased and the court in Victoria is really congested and logistically it would be much easier for witnesses and everyone in the region who have a case to remain here and be heard here instead of travelling all the way to Victoria. It will also be easier for the court and its officials to travel here,” Justice Twomey said.

She noted that with the appointment of six magistrates their workload has also increased, thus the congestion at the court in Victoria.

A ceremonial case was called yesterday to reopen the court and Magistrate Kerr said during this first week no trials will be held as the court will address all administrative and procedural issues as well as fix dates for hearings.

Magistrate Kerr added that the main reason to reopen the court at Anse Royale is because there are enough magistrates now to provide a consistent service to people residing in the southern region of Mahe and also to make the court more accessible to people in that area.

“They will no longer need to travel all the way to Victoria for minor cases and in cases where there are lots of witnesses it will be easier for them all,” Magistrate Kerr pointed out.

She noted that there are some 300 pending cases involving people from Cascade all the way up to Port Glaud and those will now be heard by the court at Anse Royale.