Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that at around 01 20 hours on Sunday 09 March 2025 at Chemin Grenier Police Station, Mr J. F. and his father Mr J. F. too requested for Police assistance as their relative and friend were being assaulted at St Felix Public Beach. Upon reaching St Felix Public Beach at around 01 30 hours, Police found Mr A. F. and Mr J. M. D. L. seriously injured. They were conveyed to Souillac Hospital where they were both examined by a Government Medical Officer. The injured persons were subsequently conveyed to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital for further treatment. Police could not record their statements immediately as they were injured and were receiving treatment. However, Police recorded the statement of Mr J. M. D. L. at 15 45 hours and that of Mr A. F. at 15 50 hours on the same day. In his statement, Mr J. M. D. L. affirmed that – (i) he, along with three persons had proceeded to St Felix Public Beach on Saturday 08 March 2025 at 22 00 hours, for a prayer session; (ii) on Sunday 09 March 2025, at around one o’clock, during the prayer session, a group of persons assaulted them with offensive weapons; (iii) the persons claimed that Mr J. M. D. L. and his congregation were dealing with witchcraft; and (iv) the persons took two gold chains and a sum of Rs400 which belonged to him. Madam Speaker, I am further informed by the Commissioner of Police that, on Monday 10 March 2025, one Mr M. R. J. and one Mr M. Z. I., both residing at Chemin Grenier, voluntarily called at Chemin Grenier Police Station, accompanied by their lawyers, to surrender themselves in connection with the incident. While being interviewed by the Police, they opted to keep their right of silence. The two persons were arrested on the same day. On Tuesday 11 March 2025, they were provisionally charged for “larceny with violence” before the District Court of Savanne. The Police objected to their release on bail and they were remanded to Police cell up to Monday 17 March 2025, that is, yesterday, date on which the Magistrate of the District Court postponed the hearing to Thursday 20 March 2025.

36 On Saturday 15 March 2025, Mr J. M. D. L. gave a further statement to the Police and he identified Mr M. H. A. B. as being the person who assaulted him and stole his golden chains and the sum of Rs400. On Monday 17 March 2025, Mr M. H. A. B. was provisionally charged for “larceny with violence” before the District Court of Savanne in relation to the incident which occurred on 09 March 2025 at the public beach. The three persons were remanded to Police cell up to Friday 21 March 2025, pending their hearing on bail on Thursday 20 March 2025. Enquiry is still going on in the case.

Yes!

Merci, Madame la présidente. Au vu du témoignage d’une des personnes agressées, un pasteur de surcroît, le Premier ministre peut-il dire à la Chambre s’il y a eu une possible complicité entre les agresseurs et certains policiers ce matin-là, car il faut bien le dire, à leur arrivée sur le lieu de l’agression, les policiers étaient, semble-t-il, très amicaux avec les agresseurs et, deuxièmement, il y avait réticence à enregistrer la déposition du pasteur dans son intégralité ?

I am not aware of this. The Police enquiry is still ongoing. I am sure we will find out about this.

Of course! Yes!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is the hon. Prime Minister aware that thugs, vagabonds proches de l’ancien régime, close to a former senior Minister, to the MSM were involved in that assault…

I am sorry, I didn’t hear anything of what you are saying. Are you on this question?

Yes.

Same public beach?

I am, yes. Thank you.

Speak out!

37

Okay. Is the hon. Prime Minister aware that thugs, I mean vagabonds proches de l’ancien régime, close to a former senior Minister, to the MSM, were involved in that assault? Will the hon. Prime Minister agree with me that we need stiffer penalties for those who play with our social and religious fabric? Thank you.

Yes, I tend to agree that we have to have tough penalties. I am aware a bit, but I do not want into a police enquiry which is going on.

Exactly! Yes, last question! I am sorry, time is almost up.

Merci, Madame la présidente. Donc, ce n’est pas la première fois que des personnes se font agresser à cause de leurs croyances religieuses. Le Premier ministre compte-t-il prendre des actions pour s’assurer que tous les Mauriciens soient libres de pratiquer leur religion, et si oui, quelles sont ces actions ?

Certainly. We have already said that many times, nous serons intransigeants avec ceux qui veulent déstabiliser notre pays. We are going to look at all the laws that are here; we are probably going to stiffen them.

Thank you. Time is up! I am sorry, hon. Members, I have to inform you that the Table has been advised that the following PQs have been withdrawn: B/139, B/140, B/141, and B/143. Now we move to questions to Ministers! I call on the hon. First Member for Rodrigues, Ms Collet! 29TH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – ZONE 7 REGION – OUTCOME