Harvesh Seegolam, the former governor of the Bank of Mauritius (BoM), alleged embezzlement case is delayed to October 15

Harvesh Seegolam

• Is the subject of a provisional charge of "conspiracy to defraud public fund" in connection with this controversial disbursement, made in favour of Menlo Park Ltd by the MIC, on 28 October 2024, a few weeks before the general elections of 11 November.
• This unit of the CCID arrested him on January 3, when he got off the plane at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport, in connection with this case.
• Appeared in the court of Port-Louis yesterday in the case of the alleged embezzlement of Rs 45 million involving the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC) and Menlo Park Ltd.

Magistrate Prashant Bissoon postponed the case to October 15 following a request for a delay from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit (AMLU) of the Central Criminal Investigation Division (CCID) because the investigation is still ongoing.

Following Harvesh Seegolam's arrest, four others were arrested:-,

• The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MIC, Jitendra Bissessur, was also arrested by the AMLU on January 21. A provisional charge of "conspiracy to defraud" had also been brought against him. Throughout this investigation, the latter has chosen to assert his right to silence.
• Menlo Park Ltd.'s co-directors, Stéphane Adam and his sister Marie-Queenie, were arrested on March 4. They also face provisional charges of conspiracy to defraud. The latter also asserted their right to silence but have submitted a 644-page affidavit in court to counter the allegations against them in this case.
• The fifth arrest in this case took place on April 16, and it concerned the former Minister of Finance Renganaden Padayachy. He faces the same provisional charge as those involved in this case.

Stéphane Adam was arrested for the second time, on June 19, for "obstruction of justice".

• He is suspected of having lied about the disappearance of a laptop, "key to this investigation", according to investigators. The suspect claimed the computer was stolen from his unlocked car near Coromandel shortly after the election.

A source close to the investigation says that the investigation is stagnating due to a lack of evidence.

• "It has been going on for six months, but nothing concrete has been detected on this Rs 45 million deal...".
• According to this source, "almost no" evidence has been put in front of the suspects to corroborate the events that led to the granting of Rs 45 million to Menlo Park Ltd.
• "Only allegations on both sides..." This is in a context where it is rumoured that the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) will take over the investigation...

Source

https://lexpress.mu/s/laffaire-renvoyee-au-15-octobre-a-la-demande-de-lanti-money-laundering-unit-546733?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=LinkedIn#Echobox=1750935818-1