Police complete investigation into use of States purchase card

Monday 25 September 2017

Jersey Police say they have concluded their investigation into whether a man in his 40's misused his States' purchase card.

No arrests have been made, and they have now submitted a file on the case to the Law Officers' Department who will decide whether to take the case any further.

The identity of the man has never been published, or the details of the alleged offence, but it is thought that the Police began their investigation after a complaint. Then on Friday, a spokesperson issued the following short statement:

"...the investigation has concluded and a prosecution advise file has been submitted to the LOD (Law Officers Department). No arrests have been made."

The use of States purchase cards has been a very high-profile and controversial issue since it emerged earlier in the year that the former Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf, had spent more than £50,000 on his Ministerial card – over £11,000 of which he was made to repay - following an Express Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Over a period of at least three years, Senator Ozouf was found to have repeatedly used the card to pay for ‘personal’ expenses such as media subscriptions, Uber taxis, flights and travel for guests, books, computer equipment and clothing.

That expenditure continued until Senator Ozouf’s Accounting Officer – the civil servant responsible for his budget – changed in September 2016 to the States Chief Executive John Richardson, who asked him to pay it back in January. That sum remained unpaid for a further four months when Senator Ozouf was issued with an invoice. He then promptly repaid.

It's thought the rules controlling how States' purchase cards should be used were binding for civil servants, but did not extend to Ministers. There is no suggestion that Senator Ozouf broke the law.