Pierre Claude Sandian has been found guilty of violating the curfew order during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown by selling bread to the public.
Magistrate Poojanjali Baichoo of the Curepipe court was quoted as affirming that the prosecution was able to establish the elements of the offense against the accused.
According to l’Express, the arresting police officer stated that she was on patrol at La Brasserie Road, at the corner of Derby Road in Curepipe on April 4, 2020, when she saw the accused standing near the open trunk of his car, selling bread to the public.
However, his act constituted an offence since a curfew was in effect in Mauritius at the time, as part of the COVID-19 pandemic health protocol. The officer subsequently issued a citation.
Pierre Claude Sandian reportedly admitted that he was along Royal Road, La Brasserie, at the corner of Derby Street, Curepipe, at the time of the incident due to his birthday, but denied selling bread to the public. He eventually conceded to violating the curfew.
After considering both versions, the magistrate reportedly ruled that Paragraph 1 of the COVID-19 regulations “do not apply to a person who could demonstrate that their presence was necessary at a location where they must receive medical care, essential supplies, food, medicine, or any other item essential to their subsistence.”
“The court believes that the accused’s sworn admission of being outside at the time of the incident constitutes a violation of the curfew order in effect. His inability to provide a plausible explanation, except that it was his birthday that day, renders the present offence applicable,” concluded the magistrate.
The sentence will be announced at a later date.
Source: l’Express
