Bank Accounts of Maminiana Ravatomanga Frozen at the Request of the FCC
The bank accounts of Maminiana Ravatomanga linked to Mauritius have been frozen at the request of the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) due to significant money transfers. Attorney General Gavin Glover clarified that no international arrest warrant has been issued against the businessman.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the FCC indicated that it obtained information suggesting that Maminiana Ravatomanga had transferred a large sum of money to Mauritius, intending to move these funds to other jurisdictions and leave Mauritian territory.
The businessman was admitted to a private clinic in Plaines-Wilhems on Friday evening. He is expected to appear before the FCC soon to respond to allegations made by young Malagasy nationals. Suspicions of embezzlement and money laundering have been raised, but the investigation continues to confirm certain elements.
The FCC obtained a Criminal Attachment Order from the Supreme Court against Maminiana Ravatomanga on October 15. This court order prohibits any disposal of the funds held in the businessman’s bank accounts.
On Friday evening, sources close to the FCC described the case as "Very Sensitive" and stated that it is being handled with the "Highest Level of Confidentiality" to ensure the smooth progress of the investigation. While the National Defense Council of the Transition (CNTD) leads in Madagascar, there is currently no official recognition of this body at the African Union level. Thus, the official requests for judicial assistance made by the FCC have so far gone unanswered.
The investigation was triggered on Monday, October 13, following a complaint lodged with the FCC by Malagasy nationals residing in Mauritius, accompanied by their lawyer, Me Sailesh Seebaruth. They denounce an alleged network of embezzlement with international ramifications involving Maminiana Ravatomanga, as well as the "illegal" landing of a private jet in Plaisance the day before. The businessman indeed arrived in Mauritius on Sunday alongside former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and his associates.
While the former Malagasy head of government has since moved on, Maminiana Ravatomanga remains present in Mauritian territory.
The case is taking on a crucial diplomatic and institutional dimension. The FCC has informally sought the assistance of Malagasy authorities to obtain information regarding the magnate's financial activities, reputedly close to a former Prime Minister of the Big Island. At the same time, the National Defense Council of the Transition (CNDT), a Malagasy body, has already sent an official correspondence to the FCC, requesting Mauritius's cooperation in this matter.
Beyond this specific case, the institutional credibility of the FCC is at stake. Established to strengthen the fight against money laundering and financial crime, the commission must demonstrate its capacity to conduct independent and rigorous investigations, especially when dealing with high-profile individuals.
This case, at the intersection of regional economic and diplomatic issues, could mark a significant turning point in cooperation against illicit financial flows in the Indian Ocean.
Defense and Position of the Businessman
Three days later, on Thursday, October 16, Me Siddhartha Hawoldar, legal representative of Maminiana Ravatomanga, submitted documents to the FCC's headquarters in Réduit. "My client is a frequent visitor to Mauritius and has no intention of leaving the country before explaining himself," he stated to the Défi Media Group following his visit to the Réduit Triangle. Investigators are currently examining allegations concerning suspicious financial transactions through companies linked to the businessman in Mauritius. Initial checks involve real estate acquisitions, business operations, and local bank accounts.
Malagasy Cooperation and Focused Cases
The National Defense Council of the Transition (CNDT), led by Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, has officially requested judicial cooperation from the FCC. Me Fanirisoa Ernaivo, a former magistrate, represents the Malagasy authorities in this process aimed at tracing financial flows, freezing assets, and obtaining banking information related to Maminiana Ravatomanga and his companies. The CNDT mentions several sensitive cases involving the businessman, including the Letchi-GEL sector, fraudulent contracts at JIRAMA, and the issue of Iranian Boeing 777 aircraft mentioned in reports from Transparency International Madagascar.
Alongside the Ravatomanga case, the FCC has sent correspondence to Malagasy authorities regarding the investigation into Wendip Appaya, a businessman from Tranquebar. His connections with key players in the Big Island, who are suspected of being involved in dubious activities, are under thorough scrutiny. The FCC is also interested in his financial activities in Madagascar and has sought assistance from local authorities in this regard.
Recent videos circulating on social media, showing a cocaine shipment allegedly destined for Mauritius, have also caught the attention of Mauritian authorities. The Malagasy authorities, who reportedly dismantled part of the network, are collaborating with Mauritian investigators to identify local ramifications. Information exchange between the two countries, and possibly with the Malagasy Anti-Corruption Pole (PAC) and the Réduit Triangle, will be crucial to advancing these investigations.
However, at this stage, the FCC remains silent regarding the Ravatomanga case, internally classified as "Highly Sensitive."
Origin of the Revelations: The Mauritian Whistleblower
The entire money laundering and drug trafficking affair erupted in February 2025, following the confessions of a Mauritian detained in Antananarivo for drug trafficking. A presumed member of a network operating along the Mauritius/Madagascar axis, he revealed to Malagasy authorities the structure and operational mode of this criminal organization.
Informed of these statements, the FCC reopened several leads in Mauritius, targeting protagonists suspected of operating locally. According to gathered information, the network would include a logistics branch responsible for transportation, financiers, and executors, all active in both territories.
Moreover, the detainee denounced a cocaine trafficking operation involving other Mauritians, including a vacationer present in Madagascar from January 25 to 27, 2025. He claims to have refused an offer of Rs 25 million intended to silence him, preferring to cooperate with authorities and reveal everything.
