Jersey Politician Suspended Again After Immigration Offences Conviction

A Jersey politician has been suspended from the States Assembly for the third time in six months following a breach of the members’ code of conduct.

Deputy Philip Ozouf was handed a 28-day suspension without pay after fellow politicians voted to back a proposal from the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC), which oversees standards in the assembly. The motion passed with 34 members in favour, five against and six abstentions.

The disciplinary action follows Ozouf’s sentencing last month for immigration offences. In February, the Royal Court ordered him to complete 120 hours of community service after he admitted four counts of assisting unlawful immigration and one count of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.

The PPC said the suspension was “proportionate”, stating that Ozouf’s conduct demonstrated a “lack of regard for the island’s laws and judicial process” and had harmed the reputation and integrity of the assembly.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf, who supported the motion, argued the situation could have been avoided if Ozouf had stepped away from the assembly himself. He said the deputy had been encouraged by several people to do so but had chosen not to.

Deputy Montfort Tadier also backed the proposal, emphasising that the immigration offences involved were not “victimless crimes”.

However, some members argued the suspension was unnecessary because Ozouf had already faced punishment through the courts and previous disciplinary measures.

Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache attempted to delay the debate, saying Ozouf was unwell, but the request was rejected. He told the assembly the deputy had already been penalised by the Royal Court and had previously faced suspension from the States.

Ozouf was first suspended in September after breaching the code of conduct in relation to speeding offences. A second suspension followed in November as a “neutral act” while court proceedings were ongoing.

During the debate, Health Minister Tom Binet urged colleagues to consider Ozouf’s mental health, describing the situation as deeply concerning and saying he had “rarely seen someone in such a dreadful mess”.

Ozouf declined to comment when approached following the vote.