the dismissal of the appeal lodged by Mr. S. S., President of the Mauritius Football Association, before the…
(No. B/885) Mr F. Quirin (Third Member for Beau Bassin & Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Youth and Sports whether, in regard to the dismissal of the appeal lodged by Mr. S. S., President of the Mauritius Football Association, before the Appeal Court of the Tribunal de Première Instance of Antananarivo, Madagascar in a criminal matter, he will – (a) for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Mauritius Football Association, information as to its official stance thereon, and (b) state the position of his Ministry in relation thereto, indicating the implications thereof on his eligibility to continue holding office as President of the said Association.
M. le président, je suis sidéré par cette question car elle est factually erroneous. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have in my possession documentary evidence that the appeal of Mr. S.S., President of the Mauritius Football Association, was called for hearing on Thursday 28 2026 at the Tribunal de Première Instance of Antananarivo but has been postponed to a future date. Thus, the question of the appeal being dismissed, does not even arise and most probably, is but a figment of someone’s imagination. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, chronologically, notice of questions is submitted to the Clerk’s Office not less than four days before the Sitting of the Assembly, excluding Sundays and public holidays. Technically, this question must have been submitted by Wednesday 27 May 2026. This is where the issue lies. How can an appeal be dismissed without even having been heard? I stand to prove wrong and invite the hon. Member to lay a certified true copy of the judgment to which he is referring. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other part of the question is of no relevance.
M. le président, j'ai en ma possession – je ne sais pas si l'honorable ministre a quelque chose de différent – des documents, des verdicts certifiés et authentifiés que je vais déposer et l'honorable ministre aura l'occasion et vous-même, M. le président, de jeter un coup d'œil. D'après ces documents, l'appel de monsieur S.S. a été rejeté. C'est pour cela que j'ai adressé une question à l'honorable ministre de façon à ce qu'on puisse savoir quelle est la position de la MFA, quelle est la position de son ministère par rapport au verdict de l'appel de monsieur S.S. qui a été rejeté. Cette affaire a été répercutée dans les médias et l'honorable ministre, je suppose, a dû certainement prendre connaissance de toute cette affaire. Alors, c'est pour cela que je suis venu avec cette question aujourd'hui pour savoir quelle est la position de son ministère et quelle est la position de la MFA par rapport au verdict de l'appel qui a été rejeté.
Are you going to lay this document?
Yes, sure.
Please, let me have a look.
Si vous permettez, M. le président, je redis que l'affaire a été renvoyée au 25 juin 2026.
Yes, do you have a next question?
Yes. L'honorable ministre peut-il déposer, il vient de nous parler, je crois du 26 juin, si je ne me trompe – le document auquel il fait référence ?
The document you have produced, hon. Quirin, is a document where he has been sentenced but it is not from the Appeal Court. He has been sentenced sur l'action civile, but the hon. Minister is referring to the Appeal Court. Do you want to lay the document, as well?
No, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the document I have in my possession is a privileged information between Mr. S.S. and his Counsel, which he has graciously shared with us and cannot be made public. However, my Ministry has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade information regarding the case. I will share in due course.
Okay, we close it here because we are dealing with a foreign jurisdiction. We do not know the procedure in Madagascar clearly. As per the document you have produced, he has been sentenced on the first instance. The hon. Minister saying there is an appeal.
M. le président, avec votre permission ?
Yes.
, Je ne vois pas pourquoi l'honorable ministre ne veut pas déposer le document qui est dans sa possession.
He has been advised that it is a privileged document. We are talking about a foreign tribunal. Hon. First Member for Vacoas & Floréal! ISRAEL-MAURITIUS – DIPLOMATIC, TRADE & SECURITY RELATIONS