Road Track Case in Rodrigues: Commissioner Grandcourt Confronted with Phone Exchanges

The investigation by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) took a new turn this week with the Under Warning hearing of Chief Commissioner Franceau Grandcourt by a team of investigators sent to Rodrigues. He was confronted with phone exchanges—calls and messages—from November 2022, considered incriminating.

These communications reportedly occurred between Franceau Grandcourt and the contractor responsible for the construction project of Road Track in Port-Mathurin, Rodrigues. When faced with the investigators, the Chief Commissioner did not dispute the existence of these exchanges but denied having encouraged or ordered the implementation of any infrastructure project for his benefit or for that of Health Commissioner Nicolas Volbert. Franceau Grandcourt argued that the calls exchanged with the project manager fell under private matters. "In Rodrigues, everyone knows everyone," he stated to support his defense.

According to the FCC's preliminary findings, the project was voted on by the Regional Assembly in 2022-2023, through the public infrastructure commission, at a cost of Rs 9 million. Three houses were selected to benefit from Road Track, and the contract was awarded to a company based in Arsenal, Mauritius.

After the start of the works, the contractor reportedly informed the FCC that he had been instructed to alter the initial plan on the orders of Franceau Grandcourt. Phone exchanges between him and a Technical Officer from the public infrastructure commission were also retrieved by the investigators. A document titled "Minutes of Proceedings" mentions instructions received to modify the project, corroborated by phone calls in that regard.

The FCC also heard from a Departmental Head, who implicated Franceau Grandcourt by stating that the instructions to modify the project came from him. Investigators also sought explanations regarding "earmarkings" for locations where the construction of Road Track was recommended.

The tendering process was also examined. A company based in Arsenal, Mauritius, secured the contract for an amount of Rs 9 million. A representative of this company in Rodrigues, responsible for overseeing the works, confirmed that he received instructions from Franceau Grandcourt to alter the Road Track layout to include a section surrounding the home of relatives of Nicolas Volbert, according to the FCC's investigation.

The works also reportedly stopped in front of the homes of relatives of Franceau Grandcourt as well as in front of Health Commissioner Nicolas Volbert's house, who was already called in December as part of this same investigation.

Following these Under Warning hearings, the FCC investigators will draft a report to be submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This office will determine whether there is sufficient ground for prosecution for offenses of "using position for gratification."