Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I am replying to Parliamentary Questions B/643 and B/646 together. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that reward money is paid to Police Officers who are engaged in the fight against dangerous drugs based on the following factors – (i) nature and the circumstances; (ii) persons arrested and the number thereof; (iii) quantity and value of drugs and exhibits secured; (iv) risks involved, and (v) reliability and regularity of the informers. With regard to the quantum allocated to Police Officers in each of the past five years, I am providing this information – • In 2020-2021, a sum of Rs6,220,000 was budgeted, but Rs1,113,800 was disbursed to informers and Rs225,540 to Police Officers. You can see the big difference. Police Officers were getting less than the informers. • For 2021-2022, Rs224,000 for Police Officers, but Rs13,269,200 for informers. • Again, in 2022-2023, Rs229,740 to Police Officers, but Rs74,485,040 for informers.

21 • I must say in 2023-2024 and in 2024-2025, no money was disbursed to Police Officers at all. But the informers, in 2023-2024, received Rs84,613,750, and for last year, Rs56,014,300. Let me give the details of the monthly disbursement for the reward of money from July 2024 to December 2024. In July, the total amount disbursed was Rs4,586,450. In August 2024, it was Rs368,900. But in September 2024, it jumped to Rs11,242,900. In October 2024, it jumped to Rs38,932,450. You will be glad to hear that in November and December of last year, the amount disbursed is nil. Zero! Now, the House will note – I am sure, seeing their expression – that from September to October 2024, a total amount of Rs50,175,350 was paid as reward money not to Police Officers, only to informers!

Incroyable!

Now, this is two months prior to the general elections. You can guess the reason why this happened. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, one disturbing element that comes from that information is that the amount disbursed exceeds by far the amount budgeted. In other words, as usual, they just give money. Money that is not theirs! This, in itself, raises several questions as to the manner in which that money was disbursed. It is worth mentioning that in 2014, it was decided to put an end to the practice of giving reward money as there was strong, very suspicion of abuse. This is when we left government. However, in 2016, the practice was restored. Now, in 2020, soon after his appointment, the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Servansing, tried to rationalise – because he was not allowed to change it – the procedure through an amendment to Police Standing Order 122. Subsequently, in 2021, the then Mr Servansing was gone. The new Commissioner of Police, Mr Anil Kumar Dip, again, amended Police Standing Order 122, which allowed payment to reward money to informers although the case may not have been disposed by the court. Even before, he was giving the money! Also, simply from obtaining a report from the forensic lab certifying that the exhibits were secured as dangerous drugs. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, is it a coincidence that as from 2022, we noted a fundamental increase to the amount disbursed, as I said, to informers with hardly any money given to

22 Police Officers? Even a cursory look at some of the information provided suggests that those at the helm of the Police were wallowing in muck of malfeasance and corruption, with a deeply entrenched complicity throughout the whole procedure put in place. In fact, the whole procedure was put in place for them to be able to it. It also begs the question as to what exactly was the role of the Manager Financial Operations and the internal control play in the management of finance of the Police Force. This is being enquired into. What was their role? What were they there for? An hon. Member: Voler!

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the House is aware, the Financial Crimes Commission is inquiring into the whole issue of reward money, and we are amending the Financial Crimes Commission Act precisely this afternoon so that there can be a joint enquiry whenever the need arises. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in view of the high risk of abuse and illicit use of the reward money within the Police Force and to establish a transparent and accountable system to prevent such corrupt practices, the FCC, as an independent institution and as mandated under section 6 (2)(g) of the Financial Commission Act, is reviewing the practices and procedures regarding the disbursement of reward money to Police Officers and to informers.

Yes, hon. Lobine!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. May I ask the hon. Prime Minister, in view of the opacity surrounding the procedures with regard to disbursement of those reward money which amount to a big scandal with regard to the sum being paid, is it not a fit and proper case under the new Public Inquiries Act 2025 to set up an inquiry with regard to procedures and disbursement of money from 2015 up to that date, with regard to those big sums of money? We are talking as per reports in the press, more than Rs200 million with regard to reward money. Is it not a fit and proper case for a public inquiry?

The case is in court actually. It is exactly for the amount of the reward money. Mr Lilram Deal, for example, who was an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was arrested – this is precisely one of the things he was arrested for. He appeared in front of the District Court of Port Louis with a provisional charge and, again, all these are being investigated.

23

Hon. Juman!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Hon. Prime Minister, can we have an idea of the amount of drugs seized for the period September/October 2024 where Rs50 million…

We are talking about reward money. We are not talking about drugs. I do not think the hon. Prime Minister will have this answer. Come with a proper question! There is a question. Relevant to this question?

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. May I ask the hon. Prime Minister, whether he has recommended or he has been made aware by the Commissioner of Police if a departmental inquiry within the Police has been set up in regard to reward money and if that can be extended to the defunct unit of the Police, namely the SST which itself has been in the limelight for uncouth practices, particularly with regard to the declared amount seized against amount what was really seized? Thank you.

Precisely, this inquiry is ongoing within the Police department.

Hon. First Member for La Caverne and Phoenix! COVID-19 (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2020 – PROSECUTIONS – CONVICTIONS & FINES