Construction of Track Roads at Rs 9 Million in Rodrigues: Commissioners Volbert and Grandcourt Under Investigation

The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) is investigating the construction of Track Roads in Rodrigues, costing Rs 9 million. Commissioners Franceau Grandcourt and Nicolas Volbert have been interviewed "Under Warning", suspected of favoritism in awarding public contracts.

Last weekend, a team from the FCC traveled to Rodrigues to probe an alleged case of "Using office for gratification" related to the construction of Track Roads in certain areas of the island by the government. Initially, well-defined criteria were established for the project. However, the commission states that several factors were not adhered to. Chief Commissioner Franceau Aubrey Grandcourt and Health Commissioner Jean Nicolas Volbert are under scrutiny. Sources at Réduit Triangle indicate that the investigation is ongoing within the FCC's Rodrigues branch concerning this project, which cost the state Rs 9 million.

During the weekend, investigative teams interviewed Chief Commissioner Franceau Grandcourt and Commissioner Jean-Nicolas Volbert in "Under Warning" sessions to assess their potential involvement in this matter. Their roles regarding the project approval and the awarding of the public contract were closely examined. At this stage, the FCC indicates that it must conduct further interviews and verifications before any potential charges.

The projects involve the construction of Track Roads in specific locations. Criteria had been established regarding potential beneficiaries of certain lands. These criteria included age, mobility difficulties in certain areas, and the necessity to facilitate the movement of essential and emergency service vehicles, such as police and ambulances.

The FCC is interested in how relatives of Nicolas Volbert benefited from these projects. Two of these relatives have been interviewed by the FCC as witnesses.

Nicolas Volbert stated, "No influence for my mother to benefit from the Track Road." Commissioner Volbert denied any involvement in this matter, asserting that he is not involved in public infrastructure files and is unaware of the circumstances around the Track Roads projects in Rodrigues. He also claimed not to have exerted any influence for his mother to gain a Track Road. "There was no influence for my mother to benefit from the Track Road," Volbert stated during his Under Warning interrogation by the FCC at Camp-du-Roi, Port-Mathurin.

The FCC seeks to clarify how relatives of Nicolas Volbert benefited from this state project when their names did not appear on the initial list of beneficiaries. According to the investigation, the Track Roads construction project was reportedly extended to areas near their homes under questionable circumstances. The FCC is also examining the conditions surrounding a survey conducted to determine the various beneficiaries of the project.

As part of this investigation, contractors responsible for the project, the head of the commission's department, and a surveyor have also been questioned regarding the circumstances of the Track Roads construction. All claimed to have acted on the instructions of the Infrastructure Commissioner, Franceau Aubrey Grandcourt, and in connection with Nicolas Volbert. Meanwhile, documents related to these projects have been sealed by the FCC and will be examined at Réduit Triangle.