Police crackdown intensifies
The police are intensifying their operations to stop and search vehicles and persons, and any person in possession of offensive weapons, without justification, will be prosecuted.
The statement by Seychelles Police communication officer, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Jean Toussaint, yesterday afternoon at the police headquarters, followed a series of attacks where offensive weapons have been used to injure others.
According to ASP Toussaint, in the latest incidents, a 17-year-old girl from Le Niol was arrested and detained after stabbing her 20-year-old partner, who is a resident of Union Vale, in an incident which occurred in the vicinity of Union Vale.
According to the police, the man is presently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at the Seychelles Hospital, while the police confirmed in a communique yesterday afternoon that the Magistrates Court had detained the suspect until January 27, when she will reappear before court.
In another incident over the weekend, two young men were attacked near an entertainment establishment in town. Mr Toussaint said one of them sustained several injuries, which were not life-threatening, was treated and then released.
In a separate incident, a woman was also attacked near that same place in the town area.
Another incident was reported on Praslin nearly two weeks ago where, according to ASP Toussaint, one of their officers was injured on three parts of his body after he was attacked.
He said that since last year, several similar incidents have been reported where offensive weapons have been used to attack, injure or kill others.
“Almost every day our patrolling officers are arresting people in possession of these weapons, which include knives, machetes, axe, and clubs. These weapons are not only the ones bought from shops, but there are some that have been modified, thus making it more dangerous because the intention is clear and that is to harm another person,” said Mr Toussaint.
According to ASP Toussaint, one of those knives, which is becoming increasingly popular among the public, is the ‘albacete’.
The police said it was unclear at the moment what was prompting so many people to have these weapons in their possession. However, he said these are not restricted to a certain age group since such items are being seized from people as young as teenagers as well as adults.
In view of these alarming cases, the police said they are going to crack down on people who are found to be in possession of these weapons and urge them to be responsible.
“We have intensified our operations in relation to possession of any form of offensive weapons. People will be stopped and searched and prosecuted,” he said.
ASP Toussaint explained that under the law, the police can stop and search anyone at any time during the day, and has dismissed the perception that such searches are done only at night.
“Members of the public can be stopped and searched any time during the day and in the event they cannot justify the possession of offensive weapons, they will be arrested and prosecuted,” he explained.
A person found guilty of being in possession of an offensive weapon can be sentenced to seven years in prison.
Source: Seychelles Nation
