Mauritius Duty Free Paradise case will be handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions

Documents pertaining to the fraud that occurred at the Mauritius Duty Free Paradise (MDFP) in August 2010 will be handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the coming days.

As part of a police inquiry led by investigators of the Anti Drug Smuggling Unit (ADSU), 41 people were questioned.

Two high ranking officials of the MDFP, namely warehouse manager Sailesh Ramdhonee and company manager Vele Govinden, were arrested and released on bail on August 20, 2010.

A third employee was arrested under a charge of ‘larceny by person in receipt of wages’ and ‘giving instructions to commit a crime’, one week after the arrest of the two officials.

During the inquiry, a large number of luxury goods, evaluated at several million of rupees were found at the two officials’ residences.

Following their arrests, both officials refuted all allegations levied against them and pleaded not guilty.

Ramdhonee alleged that his superior had given him the articles found at his place.

Several bottles of champagne and whiskey and branded perfume bottles were found in Ramdhonee and Govinden’s car trunks.

Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit investigators of the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International airport had searched their cars as they exited the duty free shop.

The articles were seized as part of the inquiry.

The company manager also added that he received the goods from a high ranking official of the MDFP and that they were end of year gifts.