A politician who pleaded guilty to a series of offences under the Immigration Act has been suspended from the States Assembly with immediate effect following a behind-closed-doors debate.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee – which is responsible for the code of conduct for States Members – lodged a proposition to suspend Deputy Philip Ozouf until his pending court case is concluded.
The States Assembly today voted to approve the proposition with 31 votes for, eight votes against, and six abstentions.
It followed an ‘in camera’ debate, with members of the public and press excluded from hearing or reporting on States Members’ discussions prior to the vote.
It comes after Deputy Ozouf appeared in the Royal Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the employment of Rwandan nationals, in breach of restrictions about the nature of work they were permitted to carry out in Jersey.
St Saviour Deputy is now suspended from attending and participating in meetings of the Assembly, but will be able to continue to serve his constituents and will be paid.
Deputy Ozouf recently returned to the States Assembly following a separate 28-day suspension for motoring offences.
The former External Relations Minister is awaiting a sentencing date as his co-accused, Roberto Lora, is due to face trial in the Royal Court from 26 January.
How did the vote go?
Pour
The Ministers voting in favour were Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan, Education Minister Rob Ward.
The Deputies voting in favour of suspending Deputy Ozouf were: Steve Ahier, Carina Alves, Tom Coles, Catherine Curtis, Alex Curtis, Louise Doublet, Malcolm Ferey, Inna Gardiner, Hilary Jeune, Raluca Kovacs, Mary Le Hegarat, Helen Miles, Elaine Millar, Beatriz Porée, Jonathan Renouf, Geoff Southern, Montfort Tadier and Barbara Ward.
As for Constables, Richard Honeycombe, Mike Jackson, David Johnson, Mark Labey, Deirdre Mezbourian, Karen Shenton-Stone, Marcus Troy and Richard Vibert all voted in favour.
Contre
The Deputies choosing not to suspend Philip Ozouf were Sir Philip Bailhache, Rose Binet, Andy Howell, and former Chief Minister Kristina Moore, while Constables Simon Crowcroft and Kevin Lewis also voted against doing so.
Health Minister Tom Binet and International Development Minister Carolyn Labey were the only Ministers to vote against the suspension.
Abstentions
Deputy Philip Ozouf himself abstained from the vote, alongside fellow Deputies Max Andrews, Moz Scott, David Warr and Karen Wilson. Trinity’s Philip Le Sueur was the only Constable to abstain.
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