Labour boss wins new leg in battle against Integrity Reporting Services Agency

Labour Party leader Dr Navin Ramgoolam has reportedly won another leg in his legal battle against the Integrity Reporting Services Agency (IRSA). The Judge in Chambers S.B.S. Hamuth-Laulloo has rejected the latter’s application to issue an “Unexplained Wealth Order” against the former PM.

L’Express reported that the IRSA wanted the Judge to compel Ramgoolam to disclose the source of around Rs220 million seized in his coffers after the 2014 general elections.

Judge S.B.S. Hamuth-Laulloo reportedly refused to resort to discretionary powers under Section 16(1) of the Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Act 2015 (GGIRA).

The reason being that the former Prime Minister did not refuse to give explanations – the latter had declared that the money came from his salary, his per diem and also from the donations that his party had received.

The judge invoked Article 16 (2) of the GGIRA which stipulates that: “Where the Judge in Chambers considers that an application for an order under subsection (1) cannot be granted on the basis of affidavit evidence, he shall refer the matter to the Supreme Court.”

Hence, she asked the IRSA to refer the case to the Supreme Court.

Speaking after the development, a satisfied Ramgoolam told l’Express that he would be happy to respond to the IRSA in “open court”.