Daily Express – April 6, 2009
A controversial Jersey politician who claimed officials on the island covered up child abuse has been arrested at his home.
Whistle-blower Stuart Syvret was arrested at 9.10am on Monday in the parish of Grouville in connection with an alleged breach of data protection law, according to sources.
The 43-year-old senator remains in custody helping police with their inquiries.
A spokeswoman for Jersey Police said: "We can confirm that a 43-year-old man is in custody helping us with our inquiries.
"He was arrested this morning in connection with alleged breaches of data protection law."
Following the arrest, Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming said he had sent a letter to Justice Secretary Jack Straw asking him to monitor the situation because he believed it could be "motivated by political reasons".
Syvret was an outspoken critic of the establishment's handling of the historic police investigation into child abuse on the island.
In 2007 he was dismissed from his post as Minister for Health and Social Services after claiming abuse cases were being covered up.
The investigation focussed on the Haut de la Garenne children's home, where hundreds of former residents claimed they were sexually and violently assaulted.
Syvret, who called for both an independent inquiry and for court cases to be held on the UK mainland, was accused by the Chief Minister, Frank Walker, of damaging Jersey's reputation
www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/93642
Also see Senator Stuart Syvret's weblog.
Last updated 08/04/2009
Homepage