Fresh plans to suspend law-breaking deputy

Politicians have lodged a proposal to suspend Philip Ozouf from the States Assembly for a third time in just over six months.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee, which oversees the behaviour of States members, said the deputy had breached the code of conduct after being sentenced to 120 hours of community service for breaking Jersey's immigration law.

Ozouf was suspended in September for speeding offences and failing to attend parish hall inquiries before he was suspended in November until his immigration offences sentencing.

If approved, he would be suspended for 28 days without pay, with the earliest date a vote could be held being 10 March. The BBC has approached Ozouf for comment.

Jersey's Royal Court heard Ozouf hired Rwandan workers to work at his launderette and at his home when they did not have the legal right to do so.

Along with the community order, Ozouf was ordered to pay £5,000 for legal costs.

He was sentenced alongside Savoy Hotel director Roberto Lora, who was fined the same amount of money for one charge of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.

The proposition to suspend Ozouf said he had broken rule 6 and 7 of the codes of conduct.

Rule 6 stated members must not act or behave in a "manner in the course of their public and private life, that brings the assembly or its members generally into disrepute".

It added members should "conduct themselves in a manner which strengthens the public's trust and confidence in the integrity of the States of Jersey".

Rule 7 said: "Members must uphold the law in accordance with their oath of office."

In its proposition, the Privileges and Procedures Committee said Ozouf actions and "lack of regard for the Island's laws and judicial process" had damaged the assembly's integrity and reputation.

The proposition has been welcomed by the leader of Reform Jersey, deputy Sam Mezec, who wrote on Facebook he felt Ozouf should "put us all out of our misery and resign from the States".

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