Seychelles Case Law

Eden Island Village Management Association v Eden Island Development Company (Seychelles) Limited & Anor (MA 40 of 2025 (Arising in MC59 of 2024))

Eden Island Village Management Association v Eden Island Development Company (Seychelles) Limited & Anor (MA 40 of 2025 (Arising in MC59 of 2024)) [2025] SCSC 139 (23 October 2025)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA 40 of 2025 (Arising in MC59 of 2024)

The Supreme Court of Seychelles dismissed a contempt application, finding no clear court order or unequivocal undertaking to maintain the status quo over disputed land parcels.

• Contempt of court
• Undertakings
• Injunctions
• Land registration
• Easements
• Contempt-of-court

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Cecile v Cecile & Ors (MA 211 of 2024 (Arising in CS 62 of 2018))

Cecile v Cecile & Ors (MA 211 of 2024 (Arising in CS 62 of 2018)) [2024] SCSC 205 (16 December 2024)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA 211 of 2024 (Arising in CS 62 of 2018)

The Supreme Court ordered two judgment debtors to pay monthly instalments toward an unpaid judgment debt after a means inquiry, with civil imprisonment for non-compliance.

• Contempt of court
• Civil imprisonment
• Means inquiry
• Judgment-enforcement
• Civil-imprisonment
• Means-inquiry

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Prea v Family Tribunal (CA 17 of 2020 (Appeal from MA 277 of 2020 (Arising in FV 179 of 2020)))

Prea v Family Tribunal (CA 17 of 2020 (Appeal from MA 277 of 2020 (Arising in FV 179 of 2020))) [2024] SCSC 94 (27 March 2024)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

CA 17 of 2020 (Appeal from MA 277 of 2020 (Arising in FV 179 of 2020))

The Family Tribunal failed to follow due process by not framing a formal charge, not informing the appellant of the nature of the offence, and not providing adequate opportunity for defence or legal representation. The summary procedure was not justified in the circumstances, and the conviction was unsafe.

Source excerpt

• Contempt of court
• Right to fair hearing
• Summary procedure
• Children act
• Natural justice

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Lau-Tee v Lau-Tee (SCA MA 43 of 2023)

Lau-Tee v Lau-Tee (SCA MA 43 of 2023) [2023] SCCA 83 (18 December 2023)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

SCA MA 43 of 2023

The Court of Appeal corrected an accidental error in its earlier order on matrimonial property, giving effect to its intended division under Rule 13(2).

• Contempt of court
• Correction of judgment
• Matrimonial property
• Civil-procedure
• Family-law
• Correction-of-judgment

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Lau-Tee v Hoareau & Ors ((SCA MA 42 of 2023 (Arising in SCA 8 and 9 of 2021) (Out of MA 176 of 2019) and (DC 134 of 2018))

Lau-Tee v Hoareau & Ors ((SCA MA 42 of 2023 (Arising in SCA 8 and 9 of 2021) (Out of MA 176 of 2019) and (DC 134 of 2018)) [2023] SCCA 77 (18 December 2023)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

(SCA MA 42 of 2023 (Arising in SCA 8 and 9 of 2021) (Out of MA 176 of 2019) and (DC 134 of 2018)

The court found that Mrs. Hoareau, SCAA, and Fred Hoareau were in contempt of clear and unequivocal court orders and a registered inhibition by intentionally effecting and registering the transfer of Parcel S5256 to SCAA, thereby frustrating the execution of the matrimonial property judgment. The orders were not ambiguous, all parties had knowledge, and no valid explanation was provided for the breach. The application was properly brought and parties properly joined.

Source excerpt

• Contempt of court
• Matrimonial property
• Land registration
• Execution of judgments

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Bordino and Anor v Government of Seychelles (SCA 67 of 2022)

Bordino and Anor v Government of Seychelles (SCA 67 of 2022) [2022] SCCA 76 (16 December 2022)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

SCA 67 of 2022

The Supreme Court correctly found that the Respondent established a prima facie case that the property was purchased with proceeds of crime, shifting the evidential burden to the appellants, who failed to provide credible or documented evidence of legitimate funds. The procedural defects in affidavits did not vitiate the proceedings as the substance of the evidence was sufficient. Hardship is not a ground to resist freezing or receivership orders under POCCCA. The contempt finding was justified as the appellants failed to comply with court orders, but the committal to prison is stayed for 14…

Source excerpt

• Freezing orders
• Receivership
• Burden of proof
• Civil confiscation
• Contempt of court
• Standard of proof

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Cedras v Well Point Development Pty Ltd and Anor (MA89/2021)

Cedras v Well Point Development Pty Ltd and Anor (MA89/2021) [2021] SCSC 1037 (29 October 2021)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA89/2021

The court dismissed an application to commit a company director for contempt over an unpaid money judgment, holding that statutory execution procedures must be used first.

• Contempt of court
• Enforcement of judgments
• Corporate personality
• Civil imprisonment
• Contempt-of-court
• Enforcement-of-judgments

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Bordino v Government of Seychelles and Government of Seychelles v Bordino (MA 167/2020 and MA 169/2020)

Bordino v Government of Seychelles and Government of Seychelles v Bordino (MA 167/2020 and MA 169/2020) [2021] SCSC 1030 (25 October 2021)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA 167/2020 and MA 169/2020

The applicants failed to prove factual injustice as required by section 4(3)(b) of POCCA; mere dispossession pending appeal does not amount to injustice given the law of receivership. Failure to surrender possession to the Receiver constitutes contempt of court.

Source excerpt

• Variation of interlocutory orders
• Receivership
• Contempt of court
• Proceeds of crime (civil confiscation) act

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Essack v Morel (MA 152/2019)

Essack v Morel (MA 152/2019) [2021] SCSC 975 (3 August 2021)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA 152/2019

The Supreme Court of Seychelles held that David Essack, aged 76, could not be committed to civil imprisonment for a judgment debt under section 7 of the Imprisonment for Debt Act.

• Imprisonment for debt
• Contempt of court
• Personal liability of company directors
• Imprisonment-for-debt
• Judgment-enforcement
• Civil-contempt

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Hill View Resorts (Seychelles) Limited v Intendance Retreat Resort (MA 07/2021), (MA 10/2021) and (MA 1512021) arising from (MA 132/2020))

Hill View Resorts (Seychelles) Limited v Intendance Retreat Resort (MA 07/2021), (MA 10/2021) and (MA 1512021) arising from (MA 132/2020)) [2021] SCSC 910 (9 June 2021)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

MA 07/2021), (MA 10/2021) and (MA 1512021) arising from (MA 132/2020)

The application for special leave to appeal was dismissed because the supporting affidavit was defective and inadmissible, rendering the motion incompetent. The stay of execution was denied as HVRSL failed to demonstrate irreparable loss, impossibility, or that the appeal would be rendered nugatory. The directors of HVRSL were found in contempt for non-compliance with the injunction, as the court found no credible evidence of impossibility to comply and emphasized the need to uphold the administration of justice.

Source excerpt

• Special leave to appeal
• Stay of execution
• Contempt of court
• Affidavit requirements
• Interlocutory orders
• Injunctions

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