Jersey’s former External Relations Minister has been sentenced to community service for a string of immigration offences.
Appearing in the Royal Court this morning, Deputy Philip Ozouf was handed 120 hours’ community service, while his co-accused, Savoy Hotel director Roberto Lora, was given a fine of £5,000.
He was External Relations Minister for some of the 18 months while he was offending, the court heard.
Lora admitted to one count of breaching the immigration law by assisting Ozouf and allowing one of the Rwandan nationals to work in his home.
“Subverted the system”
Crown Advocate William Redgrave, prosecuting, told the court that work permits can only be issued for workers in certain industries, like hospitality, agriculture, and fishing.
When Ozouf tried to get a work permit for one of the Rwandan nationals to work at his laundry, this was refused, the advocate said.
Ozouf “subverted that system”, Advocate Redgrave said, by getting work permits for the employees to work at the Savoy Hotel, but then actually employing them at his laundry.
One worker was already in Jersey and became involved after meeting others, the court heard.
“A degree of exploitation”
With one of the workers still waiting for payment, Advocate Redgrave said it was possible “that there was a degree of exploitation”.
The have been no similar cases in Jersey or in England and Wales, but the Crown Advocate asked the court to sentence Ozouf to 10 months’ imprisonment and give Lora a £5,000 fine.
Advocate James Bell, defending Ozouf, told the court there was no exploitation.
He said the offending was at the lower end of culpability, under a law designed for much more serious offences – and that it was closer to an employment breach.
“His intentions were pure”
Ozouf, he said, was “disorganised” but “his intentions were pure”.
He said the former minister had regularly visited Rwanda since 2012, and that over time, he had been “keen to foster employment opportunities for people from Rwanda in Jersey”.
Ozouf “expresses genuine remorse for the situation”, he said.
He had been personally and reputationally impacted, he said.
“His political career, that he has devoted so much of his life to, is in tatters,” his advocate said.
“Breaches of Jersey’s immigration legislation will not be tolerated”
Head of Jersey Customs and Immigration Service Rhiannon Small said the sentencing “sends a clear message that breaches of Jersey’s immigration legislation will not be tolerated”.
“Assisting unlawful immigration is a serious offence, and this case demonstrates the consequences for those who attempt to undermine the integrity of our system,” she continued.
“The Work Permit Policy exists to protect both workers and employers, and to ensure that people coming to Jersey do so lawfully and safely. Deliberate attempts to circumvent these rules place individuals at risk and create unfairness within the labour market.”
She praised the “professionalism and diligence” of her officers involved in the two-year investigation and said the service was “committed to upholding Jersey’s immigration laws and we will continue to take firm action against any individual or business attempting to exploit the system”.
Officers worked “tirelessly” dealing with “a large number” of exhibits and documentation to work through.
She added that after Brexit, Jersey’s migrant workforce had increased “hugely” and that the service “will not stand” for circumventions of the island’s immigration policy.
“We are a welcoming island,” she said.
“Firm action will be taken against any individual or business attempting to exploit the system”
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat described the case as a “powerful reminder that breaches of Jersey’s immigration legislation will not be tolerated”.
“I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Jersey Customs and Immigration officers involved in this detailed investigation, which is the first case of this nature to be brought before the Jersey Courts, by the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service.
“My colleagues at the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service remain committed to upholding Jersey’s immigration laws and firm action will be taken against any individual or business attempting to exploit the system.”
As well as his community service sentence, Deputy Ozouf was also ordered to pay £5,000 towards the prosecution’s costs.
Commissioner Alan Binnington was presiding. Jurats Elizabeth Dulake and David Le Heuzé are sitting.
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