The six police officers accused of acts of torture on Krishna Seetul are the subject of a trial before the Pamplemousses court, which will begin on August 8, 2024. In the meantime, they have, through their respective lawyers, demanded CCTV camera recordings that the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) seized during the investigation.
Police Inspector Hurryduth Derochoonee (51 years old), Sergeant Poonith Reedoye (39 years old) as well as constables Keertiwansing Gohkool (42 years old), Joseph Jimmy Baptiste (43 years old), Jean Judex Begue (31 years old) and Doossyant Shibchurn ( 42 years old) are being prosecuted before the Pamplemousses court. These six police officers are accused of having subjected Krishna Seetul, a 29-year-old painter and resident of Arsenal, to acts of brutality on February 1, 2020, at the Terre-Rouge criminal brigade. They are the subject of a charge of “violence by public officer” under sections 86 and 228(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
The six officers have pleaded not guilty. They are defended by lawyers Neil Pillay, Avineshwar Dayal, Raj Pentiah and Sharma Nobin. A list of eight witnesses was drawn up. On April 16, 2024, the police officers' lawyers requested that recordings from CCTV cameras that the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) seized during the investigation be handed over to them.
The lawyers also requested that the IPCC communicate to them any document in their possession that could be useful in the defense of their clients. They reserved their right to file another motion in due course. The trial will begin on August 8, 2024 before Magistrate Neela Ramdewor-Naugah.
One of the six police officers, Sergeant Poonith Reedoye, submitted a request for the travel ban order against him to be lifted. He plans to travel to Madagascar from the beginning of May until August 7, 2024 for family reasons. The IPCC is due to announce its position on this motion on April 23, 2024.
“MISTREATED DEFENDANTS”
The case caused a stir after the broadcast of videos on social networks showing police officers mistreating defendants. Krishna Seetul was hospitalized for several days due to the abuse he suffered during his arrest in February 2020.
The Arsenal resident was arrested by officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in a theft case. He had maintained that he had been a victim of police brutality. He complained to the IPCC. The accused police officers were arrested then released on bail after their appearance before the Pamplemousses court.
After a thorough investigation, the IPCC forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to find out what action to take regarding possible criminal proceedings against the police officers. On June 27, 2023, the IPCC formally instituted a trial against the defendants.
