A Jersey politician has been suspended from the States Assembly for the third time in a matter of months after being convicted of a string of immigration offences.
Deputy Philip Ozouf avoided a jail sentence last month after admitting five breaches of the island’s immigration laws relating to the employment of Rwandan nationals at his home and business.
During some of the period of his offending, Deputy Ozouf had served as External Relations Minister.
As a result, the Privileges and Procedures Committee – which is responsible for the Members’ Code of Conduct – proposed a four-week suspension without pay from States business. This is the maximum punishment available.
The Assembly today voted to approve that proposition with 34 votes for, five votes against and six abstentions.
Deputy Ozouf has already served a four-week suspension without pay after admitting driving offences in the Magistrate’s Court, for which he was fined £575.
He was suspended for a second time, this time with full pay, as a ‘neutral act’ pending the conclusion of the most recent criminal case against him.
After his Royal Court sentencing at the start of February, the St Saviour Deputy’s suspension from the States Assembly was automatically lifted.
Deputy Ozouf, who was absent from today’s sitting due to sickness, has been banished from the States Chamber and its precincts and restricted from “any parliamentary activity”.