Attempted arrest of l’Express Director of Publications after ASP Jagai’s statement

L’Express Director of Publications Nad Sivaramen reportedly escaped police arrest during the week. He was summoned to the office of the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) following a complaint by the controversial Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ashik Jagai against the newspaper.

The article, which allegedly damaged the image and reputation of the Special Striking Team (SST) boss, was titled: “Social networking: allegations of ASP Jagai’s link with Franklin.”

The unsigned text had mentioned a link between ASP Jagai and drug dealer Jean Hubert Celerine (Franklin) and insinuated that the senior police officer got Bruneau Laurette arrested because the latter was about to “denounce certain irregularities”. 

Sivaramen reportedly refused to divulge the name of the journalist and took full responsibility for the article.

At the end of the interrogation, the MCIT informed Nad Sivaramen that they would arrest him on a charge of criminal defamation.

Sivaramen disputed the move, claiming that criminal defamation was an outdated law that has been abandoned in all democracies and that the police would have to take responsibility for the eventual arbitrary arrest.

Finally, Sivaramen was allowed to leave after police took his fingerprints.

Source: l’Express