Ozouf gets community service for immigration crime

Deputy Philip Ozouf has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service after breaking Jersey's immigration law.

In October, Ozouf pleaded guilty to four counts of assisting unlawful immigration and one count of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.

The Royal Court heard how Ozouf had employed five Rwandan workers to work in his launderette and at his home when they did not have the legal right to do so.

Ozouf was ordered to pay £5,000 for legal costs and was sentenced alongside the Savoy Hotel director Roberto Lora, who was fined the same amount of money for one charge of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.

The court heard Ozouf had tried to get work permits for the Rwandan workers at his launderette, My Eco Laundry, but once he realised this was not allowed, he "devised an alternative" way for them to work for him.

The prosecution outlined how after being introduced by a Rwandan contact, Ozouf asked Lora to apply for work permits so the workers could work at the Savoy.

However, text messages to his Rwandan contact showed it had been Ozouf's intention for the workers to do extra work for him at his launderette and home.

Under Jersey law, work permit holders can do extra work but only in the sector they are employed in.

In the case of the Rwandan workers, they were only permitted to work in hospitality, not in Ozouf's launderette and home, where they did his laundry, organised his belongings and cleaned.

The Crown prosecution explained the custodial threshold had been passed for Ozouf.

They pointed to a deliberate and persistent course of conduct and continuous breaches of law over 18 months, some of which was when he had been a government minister.

Ozouf was first elected to the States in November 1999 and has held roles including deputy chief minister, treasury and resources minister and external relations minister.

In November, States members decided to suspend Ozouf as they did not think it was appropriate for him to continue until the court proceedings against him had concluded.

Deputy Steve Ahier, chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, said Ozouf would not lose his seat.

He said since the suspension had been valid only until the time of verdict, Ozouf would technically be allowed back in the States Assembly.

Ahier added it was unlikely any propositions to suspend him again would be brought.

Ozouf was also suspended for 28 days in September for breaking the code of conduct for States Members after he was fined for speeding, not having a valid insurance disc and for failing to attend three parish hall inquiries.

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat acknowledged the "hard work" carried out by customs and immigration officers in what had been the first case of this nature to be brought before Jersey's courts by the service.

"Today's sentencing by the Royal Court is a powerful reminder that breaches of Jersey's immigration legislation will not be tolerated," she said.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.