Accused of Money Laundering of Rs 3.7M - Sattar Hajee Abdoula: "It’s a Civil Contract Between Two Parties"

Accused of money laundering of Rs 3.7 million, Sattar Hajee Abdoula, the CEO of Grant Thornton, stated, "It’s a civil contract between two private parties." On November 19, 2025, the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) arrested him following a Rs 3.7 million deposit made in March 2020 into the account of Grant Thornton Ltd (Advisory Services), just a month before he was appointed as a director of Air Mauritius. The FCC views this transaction as potentially illicit, leading to a preliminary money laundering charge under the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act (FIAMLA). Since his arrest, Abdoula has been under police surveillance in a clinic and has hired attorney Raouf Gulbul.

Abdoula denies receiving the amount as proceeds of crime, asserting, "This is a civil contract between two private parties. I started the work, but due to major forces, particularly the COVID-19 lockdown, the work could not be completed."

During his hearing, he explained that the contract was signed by Mariam Rajabally for Grant Thornton and by Dev Manraj, then chairman of Air Mauritius. Abdoula stated that the contract initially was valued at Rs 8.5 million, with a first payment of Rs 3.7 million. The remaining amount was supposed to be paid in Rs 500,000 monthly installments from April 2020 to March 2021.

Twenty days after signing, the country entered a lockdown due to COVID-19, which Abdoula claims froze all transactions due to the pandemic's initial lockdown. He will face the testimony of Mariam Rajabally, who confirmed acting under her CEO's instructions regarding the contract. In April 2020, Air Mauritius entered voluntary administration, halting the contract and thus the monthly payments. In November 2021, following the company's exit from administration and the appointment of a new board, the contract with Grant Thornton was terminated. Abdoula maintains that while work had begun, it was never completed.

During the hearing, Abdoula claimed that Air Mauritius never requested repayment of the Rs 3,696,000 (rounded to Rs 3.7 million), even after the general elections in 2024 and the formation of a new board. According to the FCC, the Rs 3.7 million originated from a payment related to an "Advisory Services" contract awarded in 2020 by Air Mauritius to Grant Thornton, a contract that, per the investigation, was not fully honored. Rajabally's testimony is deemed crucial. Abdoula's hospitalization complicates the investigation's progress, particularly regarding the opening of seized safes, which requires his physical presence. A key date is set for December 2, 2025, to examine his bail application.

The FCC aims to determine the exact origin of the payment and the true nature of the services provided. Seized documents, including emails between Abdoula and Air Mauritius, reveal several contradictions to initial explanations. The investigation involved multiple searches at Abdoula's home and office, seizing various items (pens, watches, alcohol bottles), documents, laptops, and phones. The FCC seeks to clarify the "origin, structure, and beneficial owner" of the Rs 3.7 million.

The FCC continues its investigation by examining the seized documents at Grant Thornton's headquarters in Ébène this week. Additional witness hearings and computer material analysis are among the upcoming steps. Evaluations of the seized alcohol bottles and valuable jewelry are also underway. Investigators are particularly interested in the contents of a safe.

Since November 20, Abdoula has been under medical care, reportedly suffering from sleep apnea. He was transferred to C-Care Wellkin clinic for treatment, as the hospital lacked the necessary equipment.

Ten days after his arrest, Abdoula has not spent a second in a police cell. Following his arrest on November 19 by the FCC, he was initially admitted to Jeetoo Hospital before being transferred to C-Care Wellkin for sleep apnea treatment. Meanwhile, the investigation continues. This situation is reminiscent of Junaid Fakim, the former FCC commissioner, arrested on October 30 for conspiracy in the Mamy Ravatomanga case, who was granted conditional release on November 13 without spending time in a police cell during those two weeks.