It is common practice, when the OdM investigates a file, that Boroughs suspend their penalty procedures pending our intervention or, at the very least, inform us before they issue new statements of offence when the urgency of the situation requires it. This year, however, much to our surprise, Arrondissement de Verdun decided to issue a statement of offence to one of our complainant while his file was still under study.
The citizen was in the process of resolving a situation of illegal encroachment on the public domain which had existed for more than a year. Had we been notified of the Borough’s intention to issue a statement of offence, we would have discussed with the Borough to try and agree on a deadline for the citizen to complete his procedures.
We were surprised and disappointed of the Borough’s way of proceeding and notified the director accordingly.
