Dorine Chukowry réponds à Reza Uteem

La ministre du Commerce à une question parlementaire du député de la circonscription Port-Louis Sud/Port-Louis Central concernant les frais légaux lors du litige State Trading Corporation et Betamax Ltd.

B/1532 The Honourable Second Member for Port Louis South and Port Louis Central (Mr Uteem)

To ask the Honourable Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection –

Whether, in regard to the legal fees and costs in the arbitration proceedings and court cases between the State Trading Corporation and Betamax Ltd., in connection with the termination of the contract of affreightment, she will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Corporation, information as to the amount thereof claimed and paid by the Corporation, indicating in each case the (a) name of the legal advisers and (b) amount of fees paid thereto?

Mr. Speaker, Sir,
I am informed by the State Trading Corporation that, with regard to claims put forward by Betamax Ltd. in connection with the arbitration proceedings and court cases, a claim of £ 2,524,400.77 for costs was put before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; however the latter assessed the costs to be £ 579,227.50, and same has been paid by the STC to Betamax Ltd.

With regard to the claims of cost in the Supreme Court of Mauritius, Betamax Ltd. had served a notice for same to STC, but on 10 March 2023, the STC was informed by its legal team that the application was removed with no order to costs.

On 20 October 2023, I am informed that the STC received a claim from Betamax Ltd. for payment of costs incurred in the Supreme Court of Mauritius amounting to about Rs 75 million and same has been referred to the legal team of the STC for advice.

Mr. Speaker, Sir,

With respect to the part (a) of the question, I am tabling the name of the legal advisors of the STC.

Regarding part (b) of the question, that is, the fees paid to the legal advisors in each case, I am informed by the State Trading Corporation that the following amount was paid in each respective case:

(a) Singapore International Arbitration Centre: Rs 69,491,167.72
(b) High Court of Karnataka: Rs 13,267,290.31
(c) Supreme Court of Mauritius: Rs 27,954,901.03
(d) Judicial Committee of the Privy Council: Rs 43,443,426.73