Mauritius Deepens Financial Crime Crackdown: Former FCC Chief Arrested

Mauritius Deepens Financial Crime Crackdown: Former FCC Chief Arrested Amid High-Profile Probes:- By Mathew Beale | Comsure | 30 October 2025

It’s been just one week since I returned from a two-week visit and educational tour in Mauritius, where I delivered training on the latest developments in financial crime compliance.

My overriding message to attendees was clear and urgent:

• Beware of the FCC Act and the FCC Commission and ensure your policy and procedure are updated and appropriate

What is the issue

• Mauritius, long regarded as a financial hub in the Indian Ocean, is under mounting pressure to prove that its institutions can resist elite interference and uphold the rule of law.
• And today, that pressure has manifested in a dramatic and symbolic development.

FCC Commissioner Arrested

Mauritius’ anti-corruption campaign took a decisive turn with the arrest of Junaid Haroon Fakim, the former Commissioner of the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC).

Fakim, who resigned just five days ago, was arrested by investigators from the very institution he once led.

The charges?

• Public official using office for gratification
• Breach of confidentiality

These allegations are tied to a high-profile investigation involving Malagasy businessman Mamy Ravatomanga, whose assets in Mauritius have been frozen amid serious allegations of money laundering and influence peddling.

A Regional Ripple Effect

• This case is not just about one man or one institution. It reflects a broader shift in Mauritius’ approach to financial crime enforcement.
• The FCC Act, introduced to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-corruption framework, is now being tested in real time—and it’s biting hard.
• The arrest of a former commissioner sends a powerful message: no one is above the law.

Charges and Allegations

Fakim is being investigated for:

• “Public official using office for gratification”
• “Breach of confidentiality”

These charges fall under the FCC Act 2023 and relate to suspicions that he may have interfered in the ongoing investigation into Ravatomanga, potentially under internal or external pressure. [defimedia.info]

He is expected to appear before the Rose-Hill District Court, where his legal team, led by Me Urmila Boolell, is preparing a bail application.

The Ravatomanga Connection

• At the heart of this case is Mamy Ravatomanga, a powerful Malagasy businessman and close ally of the ousted Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina.
• Ravatomanga fled to Mauritius following political upheaval in Madagascar and is accused of laundering over Rs 7.3 billion (approx. $163 million) through a complex web of offshore companies and shell entities. [devdiscourse.com]

FCC FREEZE

The FCC has frozen his assets and is investigating his use of Mauritius as a financial haven. The probe has revealed:

• Suspicious fund transfers via Global Business Companies (GBCs) registered in Mauritius and Seychelles. [loop.mu]
• Alleged involvement in the illegal transfer of Boeing aircraft to Iran, potentially violating international sanctions. [billionaires.africa]
• Attempts to influence FCC officials, including Fakim, through intermediaries such as Nasser Bheeky and David Jean Christian Thomas, both of whom are under investigation or have been arrested. [newsmoris.com]

Institutional Fallout

• Fakim’s resignation on October 25 was initially described as being for “personal reasons”.
• However, sources suggest he stepped down after being approached by individuals linked to Ravatomanga’s network.
• The FCC has since requested that immigration authorities be alerted if Fakim attempts to leave the country. [informus.mu] [newsmoris.com]
• The arrest has triggered a broader institutional crisis, with questions raised about the FCC’s internal integrity and resilience under pressure.

Mauritius’ Anti-Corruption Drive Intensifies

This case is part of Mauritius's broader effort to clean up its financial sector and restore international confidence. In 2025 alone, the FCC has:

• Introduced new compliance rules with penalties of up to Rs 20 million for entities failing to implement anti-money laundering procedures. [newsmoris.com]
• Launched joint investigations with the Mauritius Police Force under the FCC Amendment Act 2025, aimed at improving inter-agency cooperation. [mauritiusa….govmu.org]
• Investigated multiple high-profile figures, including former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, in separate money laundering cases. [comsuregroup.com]

Regional and Global Implications

• The Ravatomanga affair has drawn attention from international watchdogs and regional governments. Interpol has reportedly been asked to issue a red notice for Ravatomanga, while Madagascar’s new military-led government is seeking his extradition. [modernghana.com]
• Mauritius, long seen as a financial hub in the Indian Ocean, is now under pressure to demonstrate that its institutions can withstand elite interference and uphold the rule of law.

Sources:

• L’Express: Arrestation de Junaid Haroon Fakim [defimedia.info] = https://defimedia.info/arrestation-de-lancien-commissaire-de-la-fcc-junaid-haroon-fakim
• NewsMoris: Rs 7.3 Billion Graft Probe [newsmoris.com] https://newsmoris.com/2025/10/27/fcc-in-crisis-rs-7-3-billion-graft-probe-overshadows-commissioners-departure/
• Devdiscourse: High-Stakes Money Laundering [devdiscourse.com] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3673521-high-stakes-money-laundering-the-arrest-shaking-mauritius
• Loop.mu: Ravatomanga’s Financial Network [loop.mu] https://loop.mu/article/228581-investigation-into-ravatomanga-the-operation-of-an-opaque-financial-network
• Comsure: Jet-Set Escape and FCC Response [comsuregroup.com] https://www.comsuregroup.com/news/fcc-probes-mamy-ravatomanga-s-jet-set-escape-to-mauritius-over-alleged-illicit-funds/
• Mauritius Assembly: FCC Amendment Act 2025 [mauritiusa….govmu.org]  https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/mauritiusassembly/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/act1625.pdf
• https://lexpress.mu/s/junaid-haroon-fakim-arrete-pour-public-official-using-office-for-gratification-551001#