The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mauritius Telecom (MT), Sherry Singh, has been exonerated from the remaining provisional charges against him. A Port-Louis court dismissed the final two charges: “giving instruction to commit a misdemeanour,” related to the destruction of data on the MT server, and “aiding and abetting in the commission of a misdemeanour,” concerning the theft of stones valued at Rs 25 million belonging to MT. This decision was made yesterday following a motion filed by his legal representatives, Mr. Urmila Boolell, Senior Counsel, and Mr. Rouben Mooroongapillay.
“Mo kontan mo’nn libera de tou bann sarz” (“I am happy to be free of all charges”), Sherry Singh expressed upon leaving the court. Reflecting on his challenges, he noted that his focus now is on rebuilding himself. “Zot finn sey fini nou, me Bondie ek la popilasion finn ede. Mo remersie Bondie boukou. Parski san ki nou gagn enn benediksion, li inposib reziste sa kantite atak ki nou finn gagne” (“They said it was over for us, but God and the population helped. I thank God a lot. Because without blessings, it would be impossible to withstand the number of attacks we faced”). He concluded with relief, stating, “After all this persecution, today, I am totally liberated, without any case in court. My priority is to rebuild myself.”
Throughout his ordeal, Sherry Singh expressed gratitude to his supporters. He specifically thanked Mr. Urmila Boolell for her unwavering support in the face of intense political pressure and personal attacks. “She was not obligated to take charge of this complex case, but she did so with determination, alongside her team.” He also acknowledged former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Me Satyajit Boolell, who, during his own struggles, showed professionalism and support.
In a message to the authorities, Singh thanked a representative from the DPP office, whom he believes acted independently, and expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, stating, “If the Prime Minister had not clearly expressed his stance against interference in institutions, I would not be free today.”
Singh criticized the pressures he faced from the police, highlighting that he encountered numerous challenges due to their lack of independence. He expressed gratitude to the current police commissioner, feeling that there has been less interference, although he acknowledged that problematic individuals may still exist within the force. “I will continue to fight against injustice,” he affirmed.
As a reminder, Sherry Singh previously faced five provisional charges following his resignation amid the “sniffing” case and had been arrested due to allegations related to various contracts, including one awarded to Huawei for the Showmax/TV 4K project. All charges against him have now been dismissed by the courts.