Drug Importation: Gro Derek and Bruno Casimir Granted Permission to Appeal to the Privy Council

On April 13, 2026, Rudolf Dereck Jean Jacques, known as "Gro Derek," and Bruno Wesley Casimir took a significant step in their legal battle. The Supreme Court granted them final permission to appeal to the Privy Council.

The Senior Puisne Judge (SPJ) Nirmala Devat, sitting in a referral hearing on April 13, 2026, approved the final leave to appeal for both men. They are contesting a ruling made on October 2, 2024, by the Court of Appeal, which upheld their drug trafficking convictions but reduced their sentences.

During the appeal hearing, lawyer Dushyant Ramdhur, representing the two convicted men alongside lawyer Raouf Gulbul, stated that their files had already been submitted to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Rasmi Camiah, the Chief State Attorney, confirmed that the State had no objections to the Supreme Court granting the convicts permission to appeal to the Privy Council, though it did not admit to the alleged facts.

Both men were convicted in December 2022 for organizing the importation of drugs, with the offenses dating back to 2011-2012. The crime allegedly took place at the KFC parking lot in Flacq and at Batterie Cassée, Roche Bois.

Rudolf Dereck Jean Jacques was sentenced to 32 years in prison, while Bruno Wesley Casimir received a 30-year sentence, with respective fines of Rs 500,000 and Rs 300,000. On appeal, their sentences were reduced by two years, largely due to the over ten-year delay between their arrest and trial. Gro Derek has been detained since his arrest on July 27, 2012, while Bruno Wesley Casimir has been in custody since August 4, 2012.

No Drugs Seized

The central point of contention remains unchanged: according to the convicted men, no drugs were seized in this case. Their conviction primarily relies on circumstantial evidence and testimonies, raising significant legal questions.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld their convictions, asserting that the offense of organizing drug importation could be established even in the absence of physical seizure. This interpretation is now being contested by the convicts before the highest court.