JERSEY – One of Jersey’s longest-serving senior politicians, Deputy Philip Ozouf, is set to learn his fate next week as he faces sentencing for multiple breaches of the island’s immigration laws.
The Royal Court has scheduled the sentencing hearing for 5 February, where the former minister will appear alongside his co-accused, Roberto Lora, a director at the Savoy Hotel.
The Charges
The case centers on the illegal employment of foreign nationals. Last year, Deputy Ozouf pleaded guilty to:
- Four counts of assisting unlawful immigration.
- One count of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.
The court previously heard that Ozouf had arranged for individuals from Rwanda to work at his business, My Eco Laundry, despite them not holding the necessary legal rights to work in Jersey. His co-accused, Roberto Lora, initially denied involvement but recently changed his plea to guilty.
Political Future in the Balance
The sentencing marks a critical juncture for Ozouf, who was first elected to the States Assembly in November 1999. His political career, which includes high-profile tenures as Deputy Chief Minister, Treasury Minister, and External Relations Minister, is now in jeopardy.
Under Jersey law, any States member who receives a custodial prison sentence of three months or more faces automatic expulsion from the Assembly.
A Trough of Controversy
This sentencing is the culmination of a turbulent period for the St. Saviour Deputy.
- November Suspension: Ozouf was suspended from parliament immediately following his guilty pleas regarding the immigration charges. The Privileges and Procedures Committee deemed it inappropriate for him to act as a States member while legal proceedings were active.
- September Suspension: Prior to the immigration scandal, Ozouf served a 28-day suspension after being fined for a series of motoring offenses, including speeding, lacking valid insurance, and failing to attend parish hall enquiries.
Deputy Ozouf remains on conditional bail until his appearance at the Royal Court next week.
