‘Public authority’ review blocks release of information about Ozouf’s credit card use

Monday 21 August 2017

Further details about Senator Philip Ozouf’s credit card use while he was a Minister and whether he will face disciplinary action cannot be released because they are being reviewed by 'a public authority.'

Express revealed in June that Senator Ozouf had spent more than £50,000 on his Ministerial credit card – over £11,000 of which he was made to repay.

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 – with the bill going straight to the taxpayer. 

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 until four months later when Senator Ozouf was issued with an invoice. He then promptly repaid.

Pictured: A selection of the books bought by Senator Ozouf using his States credit card.

Now, further requests for information about the Senator’s controversial expenditure and whether he will be formally reprimanded have been blocked because that information is being examined by 'a public authority.'

A response to an Express Freedom of Information request, which was delayed by nearly three weeks, stated that the information had been made exempt under Article 36(1) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 “due to an ongoing review.”

Nonetheless, States officials pledged to attempt to provide the information before the end of September. “It is our view the public interest is better served by ensuring the information provided is accurate and complete, which will only be the case once the review is concluded,” the response read.

It is currently known that the Police are investigating a man in his 40s over alleged misuse of a States purchase card. That man is yet to be publicly identified.