Seychelles loses formidable judge - André Sauzier dies at the age of 90

(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles is mourning the passing away of former Justice of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of Seychelles, André Sauzier, who died yesterday afternoon at the age of 90.

Justice Sauzier served the Seychelles courts between 1970 and 1987.

Seychelles President James Michel has sent a message of condolences to the Sauzier family saying he will be sadly missed in Seychelles, but that his legacy will live on.

“I join with so many others who knew and respected Judge Sauzier in offering my deepest sympathy to you, your children and all your relatives," said Michel in a letter to his widow, Michelle Sauzier, according to a statement from the Office of the President today.

"While words alone can never assuage the personal sense of grief and loss that you and your family are feeling, I hope it may provide some measure of consolation to witness the respect, reverence and love in which Justice Sauzier was held.”

Michel noted that in the coming days, Justice Sauzier will have many richly deserved tributes paid to his memory, celebrating his achievements and reflecting his personal integrity, adding that Justice Sauzier, who was born in Mauritius, undertook to develop the rich jurisprudence of the country he adopted as his own.

"He was formidable in his perspicacity, clarity, fairness and impartiality both in criminal and civil cases. He never sought the limelight but sought to do justice in his own quiet, inimitable and efficient way. Justice Sauzier was highly respected and not a day goes by in the Seychelles courts without one of his judgments being cited."