Crushing Cruelty at MSAW, Moothien Demands Action

Linley Moothien, President of the non-governmental organization 4 Tilapat, has accused Julien George, the Director of the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW), of fabricating evidence.

The incriminating video, a copy of which was handed over to the authorities and the press, shows dogs eating each other.

According to Moothien, this scene was filmed in the old compound of Vallée-des-Prêtres during the first confinement in 2020.

Moothien visited the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) at Casernes Centrales earlier this week to file a complaint against George for falsifying evidence and against Ministers Maneesh Gobin and Mahen Seeruttun for their inaction.

He also requested that ACP Gungadin secure the area around the old dog pound in Vallée-des-Prêtres to prevent tampering with evidence.

After his visit to the CCID, Moothien met with Bishop Jean Michaël Dhurone, to whom he handed over a copy of the video.

He also requested a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after filing another complaint at the Plaine Verte police station.

Moothien claimed that he wanted to secure the area around the old dog pound to prevent further falsification of evidence.

He argued that visual evidence has already been manipulated, pointing out that the kennel was initially painted uniformly, but was later repainted with horizontal stripes on its base.

Regarding the video shot at Vallée-des-Prêtres during the first confinement, Moothien said: “This video shows emaciated and underfed dogs eating each other.

They were deprived of water and food, forcing them to eat each other.

We remember an article by Le Mauricien on April 6, 2020, which described the same situation.

What happened vindicated the denunciations made by that newspaper with its article titled “Starving and Dehydrated: Over 100 Dogs May Have Died in General Indifference”

Two days after the article was published, MSAW Chairman Arun Bhinda invited a daily newspaper for a communication operation to show that everything was fine.

On March 4, 2021, Moothien went to the CCID to deposit a USB key containing the incriminating video.

He stressed that at that time, the kennel wall was uniform and did not have colored stripes.

The incident led to another communication operation by MSAW with Minister of Agriculture Maneesh Gobin, who ordered the immediate closure of the dog compound in Vallée-des-Prêtres.

Despite repeated requests to police and silence on the investigation, Moothien decided to take another step.

He requested an immediate meeting with AHRIM (Association des hôteliers et restaurateurs de l’île Maurice) Director and warned that he had been invited by French media to broadcast the video and expose animal welfare in Mauritius.

The AHRIM Director immediately met with Tourism Minister after which Moothien was summoned by MSAW Director Julien Georges for an urgent meeting.

However, Moothien realized it was a trap aimed at getting him to hand over the incriminating video under the pretext of accelerating investigations and finding culprits.

This would have required him to sign an acknowledgment receipt and conclude investigations.

Understanding that it was all a power play and nothing would be done in reality, Moothien expressed his disappointment and feeling betrayed to MSAW Director Georges.

Meanwhile, he continued his investigation and eventually understood why MSAW wanted the video: evidence had been fabricated. Today, he demands action from authorities.

Source: Le Mauricien