Ravatomanga Appears in Court in Port-Louis This Thursday
Ravatomanga is appearing before the Port-Louis court this Thursday.
Published by Defi Quotidien
Thu, 06/11/2025 - 10:38
The businessman denies all charges against him.
Cell phone data of the Malagasy individual has been cloned.
The first hearing of Maminiaina Ravatomanga, known as Mamy, took place on Wednesday, November 5, before the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC). Accompanied by his lawyers, Messrs. Siddhartha and Nirakar Hawoldar, and Khushal Lobine, the 56-year-old businessman faced accusations of money laundering, both personally and through associated companies. The FCC also accuses him of being involved in a conspiracy to obstruct the investigation by meeting with former FCC commissioner Junaid Fakim prior to his arrest.
In front of the investigators, the Malagasy magnate denied all allegations. Regarding the funds in question, Mamy Ravatomanga stated, "I can explain the origin of the Rs 7.3 billion in bank accounts in Mauritius." Since Friday, October 24, Mamy Ravatomanga has been under arrest in his bed at the Premium Care clinic in Phoenix. After about four hours of questioning, he was returned to the clinic, escorted by FCC officers and police, and he returned to his room around 2:30 PM, where he remains under surveillance.
On Thursday, November 6, the Malagasy is expected to appear before the Port-Louis court to face three provisional charges: two counts of money laundering involving Rs 7.3 billion. These funds were allegedly transferred from Madagascar to Mauritius, partly through his personal accounts and partly via Mauritian companies associated with him, as well as a charge of conspiracy related to his meeting with former FCC commissioner Junaid Fakim.
Mamy Ravatomanga was questioned about his controversial meeting with Junaid Fakim through Nasser Bheeky. Both men are also charged in this case. The Malagasy denies any allegations of interference or influence peddling. He explained that he met with Me Junaid Fakim as a lawyer, at the home of a close acquaintance of the latter, solely for legal advice, claiming that the former commissioner left shortly thereafter.
The hearing on Wednesday was interrupted several times to allow the businessman to receive medical treatment. His treating doctors came to the FCC headquarters in an ambulance.
Investigation Procedures and Additional Aspects
The FCC also cloned the data from Mamy Ravatomanga's cell phone. The commission believes that the exchanges leading up to the October 14 meeting between Mamy Ravatomanga, Junaid Fakim, Nasser Bheeky, and David Jean Christian Thomas (an employee of the Sodiat group) are crucial for the investigation. This data will be analyzed by the commission's forensic team. Following the issuance of a report, Mamy Ravatomanga may be invited to provide explanations regarding this matter.
Furthermore, a separate investigation segment is being added to the case: the alleged role of Mamy Ravatomanga in the controversial sale of Boeing 777s to Iran. These planes were reportedly sold despite international sanctions, potentially involving the forgery of registration certificates in Madagascar. This information was provided to the FCC by Madagascar's Anti-Corruption Pole and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for investigative purposes.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Me Siddhartha Hawoldar confirmed that the FCC has retained charges of money laundering and that the investigation continues on two fronts. The lawyer specified that the interrogation will continue on Thursday with more details before a possible appearance of his client before the court. Me Hawoldar added: "He will agree with us and the FCC, and after that, he will return to the clinic for his medical treatment."
