Mauritius company denies links to China-Congo ‘Deal of the Century’ scandal

The owner of a Mauritius-based company has denied being linked to the China-Congo ‘Deal of the Century’ scandal.

This is about a US$138million deal between Chinese state-owned engineering firms and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to trade mineral wealth to fund urgently needed infrastructure projects – but allegedly concealing a multimillion-dollar embezzlement and bribery operation.

“Congo Hold-up” is the title of this survey conducted by The Sentry and Mediapart with EIC and its partners, seventeen media including RFI and five NGOs.

DEM Mauritius, said to be led by Philippe de Moerloose, a Belgian entrepreneur, has reportedly rejected “all allegations” mentioned in the Congo Hold-Up investigation, which implicates him in a proactive agricultural program.

This investigation claimed the Mauritius was linked to non-compliance of procedures in the allocation of contracts and overcharging of equipment supplied under this program.

These allegations were nonetheless denied on Monday, January 3 in Kinshasa by Alex Tshula, logistics manager of the proactive agricultural program on behalf of DEM Mauritius.

Through a statement made to the press, Alex Tshula is reported to have assured that all procedures had been respected by DEM Mauritius.

It was Alex Tshula who led this project on the DEM side, in his capacity as logistics manager. “All equipment ordered government have been delivered, everything is on site and verifiable.”