Gorah Issac street triple murderer sentenced to 21 years’ jailLiyyakat Polin was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment after he was convicted of aggravated assault with no intention to kill on Abdal Safar Udina Joomun, Zoulefekar Osman Beekhy and Yousouf Mourade. The latter, three activists of the Mauritian militant movement, were killed in Gorah Issac Street in Port-Louis in 1996 on the day of municipal elections. The victims’ relatives are not satisfied with the judgment. Not only do they think that the sentence is too light but they also believe that the real guilty parties have not been condemned. But judge Lam Shang Leen says he has taken mitigating circumstances into consideration. Liyyakat Polin pleaded guilty, cooperated with the police and helped to dismantle the “Death squadron”. Moreover, he had a clean record, said he regretted his act and has been in prison for quite a long time. However, the accusations against him remain severe and the judge insisted that there was no question of showing sympathy towards the guilty man.

<B>New Tourism Bill adopted </B>

This new Bill reinforces the powers of the Tourism Authority, created in 2002. This institution will be able to issue, renew and revoke operation permits if operators do not abide by the law. It is also expected to analyse the performances and problems encountered by the tourism industry. “This new legislation especially aims at the informal sector of the tourism industry, like bungalow renting. This kind of accommodation has to be regulated”, says an official from the Tourism ministry. Operators that work without a permit will incur a Rs 25 000 fine and a prison sentence of up to two years. Even private individuals who want to rent their bungalows to tourists will have to apply for a permit. A permit will also be required to use titles such as apart-hotel, bed and breakfast, cottage, guest house or resort.

<B>Woman’s remains burnt to cinders found in Albion </B>

The 42 year-old victim, an inhabitant of Beau-Bassin, called Brigitte Anseline, had been reported missing since July 5th. Labourers from Medine sugar estate discovered her skull, her left foot and some bones as they were working in a sugarcane field last Thursday morning. They alerted the police. Brigitte’s daughter recognized her mother’s body thanks to a earring and two watches found on the spot. Eric, the victim’s husband, informed the police that Brigitte was having an affair with a Josian Céline. The lover was arrested on Thursday night and his wife Bernadette, the following morning. They have appeared in court and been provisionally charged with murder and remanded to police cell. Josian Céline claims he is innocent.