Acting Director of MASA and Deepak Persand Arrested

In the afternoon of Monday, February 27, the head of the anti-piracy brigade proceeded to arrest the Acting Director of the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA), Harold Lai, the owner and the Harbour Music Shop, Deepak Persand , for hacking three albums of deceased artists.

Whole affair erupted following the deposition of Vedachellum Bee, producer of the label Mélimélo. He lamented the fact that the album Ovajaho Berger Agathe, Listened Gerard Bacorilall and a Best Of Kaya were marketed by Harbour Music Shop. All with the blessing of the MASA.

Bee Vedachellum had already reported to the MASA she was illegally in the recent past but nothing had been done to rectify the situation. The discs were still being sold by Harbour Music Shop, especially with the 13 years since the death of Kaya this month, without the humane society of copyright lifting a finger.

Harold and Deepak Lai Persand were arrested and paroled in the late afternoon. They must appear in court this Tuesday, February 28 for an offense under Copyrights Act. The first for illegally Music Shop in Harbour authorized to sell these discs, the second for piracy.

This is not the first time that Deepak Persand stands out due to piracy. It was already known for selling counterfeit CDs. By becoming a producer of local artists, he bought a pipe and has even served on the Board of MASA, which ended up causing the breakup of the board last year.

Last April, the Brigade anti-piracy had even issued an arrest warrant against him following the 1500 pirated CDs seized in his shop at the entrance to the Place d'Armes, Port Louis.

This does not however prevent Deepak Persand being elected by his peers as representing publishers in the MASA March 28, 2010. Which was then pushed the former company president, Gerard Télot, to suggest that the Copyright Act be amended to prevent a pirate headquarters at the heart of this institution.