Philip Ozouf sentenced to 120 hours community service

Deputy Philip Ozouf has been sentenced to 120 hours community service and ordered to pay £5,000 for immigration offences.

The St Saviour representative appeared before Jersey's Royal Court today (5 February) to hear his punishment, having pleaded guilty to five immigration offences at the Magistrate's Court last October.

Read: Philip Ozouf admits immigration offences

The court heard how he illegally employed Rwandan workers at his launderette My Eco Laundry, and at his home between 2021 and 2023 without the relevant change of employment permissions.

Their work consents related to employment at the Savoy hotel.

One woman described how he had her waiting on guests, polishing silver and cooking and said she felt she couldn't refuse because she lived in property he owned.  However, she did say that she found working for him 'enjoyable'.

The prosecution said the deputy was 'principally to blame for what happened' and he 'disregarded the law to get the outcome he wanted'.

Crown Advocate William Redgrave said there had been ' a degree of exploitation' and moved for a custodial sentence of 10 months.

Defending Ozouf, advocate James Bell said a prison sentence was unnecessary and this had been a 'technical breach'

He said it had 'taken its toll'  on the deputy, whose 'political career... is in tatters' and that he 'deeply regrets the breach'.

Deputy Ozouf was first elected to the States in 1999 and has held senior government positions including Assistant Chief Minister, Treasury Minister and Economic Development Minister.

He was the island's External Relations Minister between July 2022 and January 2024, meaning he held the position for a period when the offences occurred.

Passing sentence, Commissioner Alan Binnington said Ozouf had 'subverted the system' and 'benefitted from these breaches'.

"You have betrayed yourself as a philanthropist'

The deputy was suspended from the States without pay in November for breaching the Code of Conduct.

Read: Deputy Ozouf faces second suspension from States Assembly

It was his second suspension in as many months, as he had previously admitted motoring offences.  He was sanctioned for 28 days in September 2025.

Read: Deputy Philip Ozouf suspended from the States Assembly

The former minister has repeatedly resisted calls for his resignation, and public apologised in parliament for his initial conviction, citing personal challenges including the sudden death of his husband in 2023, and since being diagnosed as having ADHD.

Had he received a custodial sentence of three months or more, without the option of a fine, he would have immediately lost his role as a States Member.

Deputy Ozouf has repeatedly resisted calls for his resignation.

Co-accused, Roberto Lora, Director of The Savoy Hotel in St Helier, was fined £5,000, having changed his plea to guilty.  The court accepted his culpability was lower, his 'remorse was clear and genuine' and gave credit for his admission.

Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, said:

“Today’s sentencing by the Royal Court is a powerful reminder that breaches of Jersey’s immigration legislation will not be tolerated.

"I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Jersey Customs and Immigration officers involved in this detailed investigation, which is the first case of this nature to be brought before the Jersey Courts, by the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service.

"My colleagues at the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service remain committed to upholding Jersey’s immigration laws and firm action will be taken against any individual or business attempting to exploit the system.”