Ponzi Scheme: 1,372 Reported Victims, Amount - Rs 572 Million

1,372 people have complained to the Bank of Mauritius, to date, against seven investment companies. Investigations by the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) concluded with the arrest of 33 people. Among, 24 were released on bail and nine are still in police custody.

It also appears that the authorities in the financial sector, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC), have been the scent of fraud in April 2012. But it was not until last March that the file was transferred to the police.

In the case of Whitedot they are 1213 people have registered with the Bank of Mauritius as investors scammed. The amount of fraud in this case is Rs 530 million.

The investigation launched by the CCID has led to the arrest of 17 people including five are still in custody. The police investigation also allowed to recover the sum of Rs 1.5 million. Two terrains, 37 cars and 11 motorcycles were seized. A safe located in a commercial bank was placed under seal while 57 bank accounts were frozen.

154 customers Sunkai Co. Ltd., that has indirect links with Whitedot , say they have been scammed a total of Rs 39 million. Ten key executives and other employees of the company have been indicted by the CCID. Nine of them have regained their parole.

A sum of Rs 22.5 million was recovered from the suspects as well as the checks totalling Rs 128.4 million. Land, three apartments, 18 bank accounts, three vehicles have been sealed. 

Five other cases have been recorded, including against companies Je T'aime Marketing , GN Wealth Management Ltd. , Emidore Trading Co Ltd and Helene & Partners . This led to five new arrests.

The Minister of Finance explained that the CCID opened several investigations into other companies that may be involved in fraud. He did, however, not reveal the names of the companies involved, explaining that it could lead to prejudice the investigation.

As it is suspected that have left the country, Xavier-Luc Duval swung name Razala Johur who left the country before the matter became public.