President Ramkalawan receives final report on police assault incident |11 March 2021

Ms Jack speaking to the press about the report (Photo: Jude Morel)

President Wavel Ramkalawan yesterday received the final report of the police investigation regarding an assault on a man which was being circulated on social media.

Following the circulation of the video showing a police officer strangling the man on February 7, 2021, the President ordered the Seychelles Police Force to carry out a full investigation and to present him a report as soon as possible.

According to the chief press secretary Nadine Jack, the final report states that on February 4, a group of five people unlawfully gathered at Beau Vallon where they were consuming alcoholic beverages, an act which is against the public health regulations vis-à-vis the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The report further states that they were not wearing their masks and that they were not from the same household.

After being ordered to follow the officers to the Beau Vallon police station, four among the group abided peacefully, except for one who resisted and tried to evade the police.

Still according to the report, in his attempt to catch the fifth person, the police officer strangled him to the point where he passed out, before being taken to the Beau Vallon health centre.

As conclusion, the report states that both parties – the police officer and the victim – committed offences through their actions.

One of the recommendations of the report is that the case is brought before the Attorney General’s Office for appropriate actions.

The report further states that the police officer was suspended from duty immediately following the incident.

Based on the report, President Ramkalawan urged the citizens to respect and abide by the law of the land and the work of the police force, and equally strongly condemned the use of excess force from the latter.

Ms Jack also explained that even if it was said that the report would be made public, the President feels that it is not appropriate at the moment to do so as it may cause prejudice over legal procedures in front of the court.

Roland Duval