A Mauritian $9 million money laundering network linked to fraud used UK bank accounts.

The investigation into the wire fraud involving Ukrainian Yevhen Syvokon and Mauritian Neervisingh Ramdenee is gaining momentum with the addition of a third person.

According to the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC), Yuanyuan Yang, a Chinese national residing in Choisy-les-Bains, is one of the main accomplices in a vast money laundering network linked to a fraud estimated at Rs 450 million.

• 450 million Mauritian Rupees (MUR)** is approximately **£7,375,500 GBP/$9,810,000 USD

The case also has a European dimension.  The FCC is working closely with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) to assess the extent of fraud in the UK and to identify all victims.

In addition, the authorities are examining the conditions under which Syvokon and Ramdenee obtained their employment permits issued by the Economic Development Board and their immigration documents.

According to the investigations, Yuanyuan Yang, who operated under the pseudonym "Jessica," used a fictitious real estate agency — legally registered but not operational — as a front to launder funds from scams.

1. The FCC has uncovered a dozen fake real estate sales contracts involving foreign "buyers", covering identities intended to simulate villa acquisitions in luxury resorts in Mauritius.
2. The fraudulent funds came from platforms such as the one run by Syvokon and Ramdenee under the name "Strike Online."
3. Targeting cryptocurrency investors – mainly French, Belgian, Luxembourg and British citizens, seduced by digital marketing campaigns on social networks – the victims thought they were investing in a legitimate platform.
4. Once converted into Bitcoin, these funds were diverted to online bank accounts in the UK, opened in the name of fictitious customers of Yang's branch.
5. The money was then withdrawn in cash, part of which was paid to Syvokon and his accomplices.
6. During a Wednesday evening search of Yang's home, the FCC seized Rs 1.8 million in various currencies. The sum was distributed as follows:
   1. Rs 408,000,
   2. 14,000 euros,
   3. 9,269 US dollars,
   4. 400 pounds sterling,
   5. 5,000 Swiss francs, and 
   6. 3,300 Chinese yuan.
7. These funds would come directly from fraudulent transactions.
8. Forensic analysis also revealed communications exchanges between Syvokon and Yang, confirming their close collaboration within the network.
9. The investigation also highlights the role of Neervisingh Ramdenee, who is said to have created a fictitious call centre, never registered with the Registrar of Companies.
10. The centre, whose employees were paid in cash, acted as an intermediary to contact victims, first offering them investments and then inducing them to pay additional fees to "recover" their lost funds—money never returned to them.
11. According to testimonies, Syvokon, accompanied by two bodyguards, distributed the cash pay to the employees at the end of each month.

This case illustrates the growing sophistication of transnational fraud networks, which are able to take advantage of large-scale regulatory and technological loopholes to orchestrate massive international money laundering operations.

Arrested by FCC police officers on Thursday, May 8, 2025, on suspicion of money laundering under the Financial Crimes Commission Act, Yuanyuan Yang was presented the same day before the Pamplemousses District Court.

Provisionally charged, she was released on bail of Rs 100,000, with an IOU of Rs 500,000. She will now have to comply with several obligations: to live at a fixed address, to report daily to the nearest police station between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and to remain reachable at any time for the purposes of the investigation.

SOURCE

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