Costly abuse: taxpayers pay R1, 055,000 for human rights violations
Seychellois taxpayers are paying a hefty price for police abuse. The recent supplementary budget presented in the National Assembly shows that the police had to pay an amount of R1, 055, 000 for out of court settlements recently.
At a time when the Seychellois public is being asked to make tough choices, the government should be tougher with the ongoing brutality by the force.
Bryan Julie, a local Human Rights lawyer, believes that the figure is high.
“This shows that the force is recruiting a lot of people who lack the capacity to know where their rights begin or end. As a lawyer, I am very familiar with the police failing to follow the correct procedures when dealing with the public. Their lack of professionalism is costing the country too much,” says Julie.
Most of the money is being won by people who have been wronged by the police. Cases which have involved the police being sued include false imprisonment, brutality and physical abuse and failing to inform the public of their legal rights.
Taking the police before the court also shows the public’s mistrust of the Human Rights Commission to seek redress. However, legal experts say the court process is still slow, time-consuming and costly for anyone seeking justice.
Source: Le Seychellois 12-16-11