Ozouf apologises over misuse of States credit card

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Senator Philip Ozouf has confirmed that he was the subject of a Police investigation into his States credit card expenditure, and has issued a staunch defence of his actions. He also alleged that it was the former Chief Executive of the States, John Richardson, who called in Police to investigate.

During yesterday's States Assembly, the back-bencher admitted to members that he had been responsible for making purchases using taxpayers’ money, and that he had been later asked to pay some of that money back. He apologised for what he said may constitute a breach of the States' Code of Conduct.

While the Police had previously said they were investigating the potential misuse of a States credit card, it was never confirmed that it was Senator Ozouf's expenses that they were looking at. No charges were ever brought. 

The Senator acknowledged that the “mistaken use” of his card may constitute a breach of the States Code of Conduct, which he said he takes “very seriously”, and said that he had since referred himself to the new Commissioner for Standards.

A response to an Express Freedom of Information (FOI) request stated that the refund made by Senator Ozouf had been around £11,000, but he stated that “revised” answers may later be published by the States to provide a “clear, full and accurate account” of his expense claims. 

Senator Ozouf explained that his expenses had been “the highest of any Ministers for a number of years” and that these had been subject to numerous “detailed investigations”, including an internal audit of his expenses over the last three years.

That audit was ordered by the former States Executive John Richardson, who became Senator Ozouf’s Accounting Officer in September 2016.

Pictured: Senator Ozouf said that the former States Chief Executive John Richardson had referred his expenditure to the Police.

Prior to completion of that review, Senator Ozouf says that he was issued an invoice in May 2017, which was “immediately paid in full.” Since then, he says that a “substantial portion” of that refunded amount has been given back to him.

Mr Richardson also referred two transactions to the Police for investigation. Senator Ozouf explained:

“The first transaction related to a personal flight booking for £362.76 made on my iPad when my States purchase card was inadvertently selected from a drop-down menu during multiple attempts to book the flight. I highlighted the amount for repayment and I subsequently refunded the amount to the card in full.

“The second payment related to a Gatwick hotel bill for £82.00 in January of this year. It related to a stay in advance of meeting an overseas VIP delegation to Jersey. I consider the expense to be justified. However, as it was queried by the former Chief Executive, I decided to repay it.

“Following the Police investigation, a file was submitted to the Law Officers. They decided that no charges were to be brought.”

Pictured: Senator Ozouf delivering his statement to States Members.

In his concluding remarks, he offered an “unqualified and sincere apology for any breach of the Code of Conduct for States Members and/or the Ministerial Code that I may have committed in relation to any aspect of my expenses.”

“Having lost my Ministerial role due to the expenses speculation, undergone criminal investigation, spent hundreds of hours assisting with the Internal Review and had months of unrelenting, damaging and frankly upsetting media speculation about this issue – I hope that notwithstanding any findings of the Commissioner I can now focus on serving the people of Jersey as best I can between now and May 2018.”

The statement in full:

As members will recall I resigned from my role as Assistant Chief Minister in January 2017 following the controversy of a Report into the failings of the Jersey Innovation Fund.

The Jessica Simor QC report was published in April and the Chief Minister reappointed me on 24th May 2017.

A Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Minister was lodged shortly after my reappointment. 


I was dismissed as Assistant Chief Minister on the morning that the States sat to consider the Vote of No Confidence.

Whilst unrelated to the Jersey Innovation Fund, around the time of my resignation rumours began circulating concerning certain items of expenses that I had incurred whilst undertaking ministerial duties.

Ministers' and Assistant Ministers' expenses are reported to the States on an annual basis. 


The Report contains totals but no breakdown of activity. 


My expense totals have been amongst the highest of any Ministers for a number of years. 


All the roles I have discharged have required me to undertake extensive travel to the UK, 
Europe and further afield.

The role the Chief Minister offered me in November 2014 was, as members will recall, never formally created, and that is perhaps why there was a lack of understanding as to what my role was and why I travelled so extensively.

Deputy Higgins in a written question requested the publication of a detailed diary of all my meetings and engagements. I hope this has been helpful in showing what I actually did whilst I was in office.

Sir, I have always sought to reduce the cost to tax-payers whilst undertaking the duties I have been asked to discharge on behalf of this Assembly.

I have tried to travel at the lowest cost flights, I have frequently not travelled business class on long haul International flights (although I do not criticise my colleagues who have), I have booked my own travel to reduce administrative staff time and secured cheaper ticket prices and for years used all Avios points earned - and more - to book flights for myself or colleagues.

I have not claimed for overnight accommodation in central London when on States' business, despite being told that I should.

There are numerous expenses that I have incurred personally and never reclaimed. 


Sir, my expenses have been the subject of a number of detailed investigations, reviews and audits with which I have cooperated fully.

There has been an Internal Review - Audit of my expenses for the last three years.

Prior to the completion of this review an invoice was issued to me in May 2017, which I immediately paid in full.

This review has now been completed and a substantial portion of the amount paid has been refunded to me.

In addition to this internal review, the former Chief Executive of the States referred two specific transactions to the Police for investigation. 

The first transaction related to a personal flight booking for £362.76 made on my Ipad when my States purchase card was inadvertently selected from a drop-down menu during multiple attempts to book the flight. I highlighted the amount for repayment and I subsequently refunded the amount to the card in full.

The second payment related to a Gatwick hotel bill for £82.00 in January of this year. It related to a stay in advance of meeting an overseas VIP delegation to Jersey. I consider the expense to be justified. However, as it was queried by the former Chief Executive, I decided to repay it. 

Following the Police investigation, a file was submitted to the Law Officers. They decided that no charges were to be brought.

In addition, throughout this period, there have been numerous FOI requests about my expenses and answers have been prepared and published. I understand that revised FOI answers are shortly to be published which will show a clear, full and accurate account of what expense claims I did or did not make.

Sir, the Public have a reasonable expectation to understand what taxpayers’ money is being spent on and why.

My mistaken use of a States purchase card to pay for a personal flight may well constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct for States Members and/or the Ministerial Code. 

I discussed the self-referral of these matters with the Greffier during the summer of this year. I wrote formally to the Greffier last month and I made a full submission to the Commissioner for Standards at the earliest opportunity following the publication of his procedures last week.

The self-referral was made to ensure that I have taken any action necessary to correct any inadvertent breach of the Code of Conduct for States Members and/or the Ministerial Code but also to ensure that lessons can be learned in relation to the expense process generally.

Notwithstanding the corrective actions that I have taken, like all members I take the Codes of Conduct very seriously.

If there has been any breach, whether inadvertent or not, it is up to the member concerned to not only take corrective action but to decide to apologise if appropriate. 

I have decided to make an unqualified and sincere apology for any breach of the Code of Conduct for States Members and/or the Ministerial Code that I may have committed in relation to any aspect of my expenses.

Having lost my Ministerial role due to the expenses speculation, undergone criminal investigation, spent hundreds of hours assisting with the Internal Review and had months of unrelenting, damaging and frankly upsetting media speculation about this issue – I hope that notwithstanding any findings of the Commissioner I can now focus on serving the people of Jersey as best I can between now and May 2018. 

READ MORE: 

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