LDS supports concerns of present CAA over investigation of Judge Karunakaran |23 May 2017

The Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) has expressed its “grave concern” for the fairness and impartiality on the conduct of the investigation of Judge Durai Karunakaran by a special tribunal, based on complaints brought by Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey.

LDS has noted that the present CAA, chaired by Lawyer Shelton Jolicoeur, has expressed its own concerns in a statement issued yesterday, calling for the tribunal proceedings to be stopped and for a review of the complaints to be started afresh with proper rules and guidelines for its conduct (see separate article).

LDS says it is disappointed that the request has not been heeded and that the Tribunal began its hearing yesterday at National House, Le Chantier.

“It is regrettable that the views of the CAA, whose Constitutional responsibility is concerned with the

appointment and, when necessary, sanction of members of the Judiciary, have been ignored in this instance,” says LDS in its communique.

“LDS believes that in raising these issues the present CAA is setting vital standards for the proper professional conduct of proceedings in such matters, which are necessary for the fair treatment of any official against whom complaints are made. LDS calls for the same professional conduct and fair treatment to be afforded to Judge Karunakaran, who has served the country in a senior capacity for many years, as would be given to any other person in this situation,” adds the LDS communiqué.