Reply: At the very outset, I wish to inform the House that my Government will not tolerate any form of police brutality under any circumstances whatsoever. As regards this incident, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on Tuesday 29 April 2025, one Mr. G. M. P. V. B., reported a case of larceny at Albion Police Station wherein he stated that on the same day, his grandson, one Mr. N. J. V. B., had stolen his private car from his place of residence at Albion. On Wednesday 30 April 2025, following reliable information obtained that the stolen car was located around Nicolay Street, Sainte-Croix, a team comprising Police Officers from the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Metropolitan North Division, mounted an operation to track the stolen car and apprehend the individual. Reaching Blanche Street, Roche Bois the Police Officers identified the car and requested the driver to stop but the latter failed to do so. He continued his way in the direction of Abercrombie by driving in a very dangerous manner along the main road overtaking vehicles and without stopping at the red traffic light. At that point Police lost sight of the vehicle. Whilst continuing its pursuit, the Police found the stolen car emerging from Muslim Cemetery Street, Battery Cassée and again attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect refused to do so and deliberately drove the vehicle onto the approaching Police Officers and escaped. Whilst escaping, the driver hit against a concrete wall, rammed into a police car, hit a private car and a motorcycle but still did not stop. It was also reported that by driving in such life endangering manner in those narrow roads around Battery Cassée, a five-year-old boy got injured and was admitted to hospital. The escape of Mr. N. J. V. B. came to a halt when his way was obstructed by an oncoming tractor along Muslim Cemetery Street. Even then, despite repeated requests to open the door, he refused to cooperate with the Police, locking himself inside the car and again trying to flee by driving forward and backward. It should also be pointed out that several inhabitants of the region wanted to stop the driver because of the way he was acting. Due to the irresponsible behaviour of the driver which was endangering the lives of the residents along Muslim Cemetery Road and other people as well as the immediate risk he

123 posed to the Police Officers, the Police acted decisively and had to struggle to immobilize the vehicle and arrest the driver. Members of the House must have also listened to the statement in the press of the mother of the five-year-old boy who stated – “……si la police pas ti arrête li, beaucoup dimoune ti pou blessé. Capav ti pou éna ène grand accident. Capav éna dimoune ti pou mort. Missié la ti pé crase partout vini même. Li ti pé roule extra vite.’’ I am further informed that during the struggle and the several accidents he met with during the pursuit, the suspect sustained injuries. He was taken to Dr Jeetoo Hospital by the Police and was later transferred to Clinic Darné, where he remains under police watch. The case has already been referred to the CID of the Metropolitan North Division for enquiry. Same is ongoing. I wish to also inform the House that it is not the first time that Mr N. J. V. B. has been reported to the Police. In fact, from 2019 to date, he has been involved in five larceny cases as well as one case of larceny with internal breaking, one case of larceny with violence and one case of breach of conditions of bail. With regard to allegations of police brutality, an inquiry has been initiated by the National Human Rights Commission and my Office is closely following the matter. I would like to state that whilst this Government will do its utmost to uphold human rights, I will never allow any unruly element of society to undermine the authority of the Police or threaten law and order in our country. RODRIGUES – CORRUPTION CASES – GOVERNMENT PROJECTS – INVESTIGATIONS