Mamy Ravatomanga's Affidavit: Businessman Accuses FCC of Being 'Deceptive and Politically Motivated'
In his affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court at the end of the week, Mamy Ravatomanga, a Malagasy businessman and honorary consul of the Republics of Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia, formally expresses his dissatisfaction with the arbitrary restrictions imposed by Mauritian authorities.
Despite his status and a diplomatic passport, Mamy Ravatomanga is surprised that Mauritian authorities have provided him with "no protection" and have not extended the minimum diplomatic courtesy. The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire has officially requested the Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all necessary assistance is provided for him and his family to urgently return safely to Côte d'Ivoire.
Instead, Mauritius has "imposed arbitrary restrictions." On October 15, a Criminal Attachment Order obtained by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) froze all funds in his Mauritian bank accounts, "without prior notification." This action, authorized by a judge, is based on a Malagasy complaint filed on October 14.
Mamy Ravatomanga claims that this complaint is based on a closed investigation by the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), which was dismissed on July 25, 2023. He argues that the reopening of the case "constitutes an abuse of process." The PNF had concluded, he states, that there was "no objective evidence of corruption or rosewood trafficking," and the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the absence of tax fraud on December 17, 2019.
According to him, these restrictions extend to intrusive police surveillance. Since October 15, officers have been permanently stationed outside his room at the private Phoenix clinic, "regularly disrupting his treatment and rest." On October 21, a search of his residence in northern Mauritius resulted in the seizure of his and his children's phones, with no incriminating evidence found.
No Money Transfer Executed
A statement from the FCC on October 17 mentioned "credible information" regarding a transfer of a "large sum of money," citing an amount of USD 140 million (approximately Rs 6.8 billion at the current exchange rate), but Mamy Ravatomanga denies: "There has been no such recent transfer made by me or any of my family members."
However, he acknowledges having instructed Bank One to execute transfers that resulted in a transfer of USD 2.5 million (Rs 113.8 million) to his personal account in Dubai, "to ensure sufficient funds for his family's residence in the United Arab Emirates and his businesses while awaiting stabilization in Madagascar."
The businessman also intended to transfer "USD 1 million (Rs 45.5 million) to the accounts of his wife and their three children" in Mauritius, totaling USD 4 million (Rs 182.1 million).
Mamy Ravatomanga further denounces a negative media campaign fueled by the FCC's statement, which he describes as "deceptive and politically motivated."
Finally, Mamy Ravatomanga argues that these measures violate the duty of good faith: "Instead of offering assistance or due recognition of the status of Applicant No. 1 (i.e., Mamy Ravatomanga) in accordance with international standards and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Mauritius has subjected him to arbitrary restrictions and a criminal attachment order based on a closed foreign investigation." He requests the revocation of the order and the cessation of the investigation, asserting a lack of legal basis, and also asks for the revocation of the 'Report on Departure' against him.
