Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Jersey States removal threat for Senator Stuart Syvret

Mr Syvret failed to appear in court, claiming he would not get a fair trial

A Jersey politician could be thrown out of the States if he does not return to the island soon.

Senator Stuart Syvret has been in "self-imposed exile" in the UK since last October and has missed about 20 States sittings.

Now the Privileges and Procedures Committee has said Mr Syvret must be back in Jersey by the middle of April.

If not, he could be removed from office under States law, committee chairman Constable Juliette Gallichan said.

An arrest warrant was issued last year when Mr Syvret failed to appear at an abuse of process hearing into his arrest for data protection and motoring offences.

The 44-year-old former health minister said in October he left Jersey because he feared he would not get a fair trial.

He has been staying in London at the flat of Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, who claimed Mr Syvret was seeking asylum on legal grounds.

Jersey States removal threat for Senator Stuart Syvret