The case of Lily Romain, a French national, has taken a complex turn in Mauritius. She arrived on the island on March 23, but soon forgot her luggage at the airport, which contained 10 kilograms of cannabis and 6 kilograms of hashish worth around Rs 50 million. Two days later, she was tracked down to Grand-Baie. The circumstances surrounding her luggage remain unclear.
While in detention at the Sodnac police station, Lily Romain developed a relationship with a police officer stationed there. The two had consensual intimate relations on several occasions in another room. However, a member of the Very Important Persons Security Unit (VIPSU) who came to deposit his firearm at the station allegedly attempted to seduce her, with reports of physical contact.
Lily Romain complained to the station's authorities, but the minister attached to the VIPSU officer intervened, preventing the police from recording her complaint. The VIPSU officer was merely transferred to a police station in the West as a sanction. The incident seemed to have been swept under the rug. Later, when Lily Romain's relationship with the police officer was discovered, she revealed that she had been a victim of the VIPSU officer's advances.
The Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) found that no complaint had been filed against the VIPSU officer. Given that four months had passed, it was deemed impossible to record the complaint. The minister allegedly did not want the incident to become public knowledge. The CCID faced a dilemma in handling the case.
Certain information was discreetly leaked to the press, suggesting that Lily Romain's deposition was inconsistent, that she had occult protection, and that she had made arrangements with the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU). Eventually, the police sent the dossier to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), focusing on the two lovers and the police officer who facilitated their relationship.
The DPP recommended disciplinary action against the police officer and the police officer who allowed the relationship. However, the case involving the narcotics has not yet been sent to the DPP. The VIPSU officer was seemingly shielded from consequences, sparking outrage among some police officers who question why he was allowed to deposit his firearm at Sodnac despite being attached to a minister in another city.
Lily Romain has since been transferred to the Beau-Bassin prison, despite cooperating with the ADSU. Concerns have been raised about her safety. The case highlights apparent double standards in the Mauritian justice system, with sanctions for a consented relationship but leniency for a sexual assault allegation.
Key points
- The case of Lily Romain reveals discrepancies in the handling of her complaints and the influence of high-ranking officials in Mauritius.
- The leniency shown to the VIPSU officer has sparked outrage among some police officers.
- Lily Romain's safety is a concern following her transfer to the Beau-Bassin prison.
