After a first unsuccessful attempt, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has secured a freezing order on the assets of the former CEO of Mauritius Telecom, Sherry Singh. The FIU’s application, reportedly conducted ex parte (in the absence of the defender), was approved by a Supreme Court judge sitting in summary proceedings.
Singh was considered as a close aide to PM Pravind Jugnauth before he resigned over the controversial “sniffing” allegations – Singh had claimed he refused to allow Indian spies to get access to MT’s servers on a matter of principles and national security.
Since then, he launched his socio-political platform ‘One Moris’ – which has been joined by political activist Bruneau Laurette. Both are considered as staunch opponents to Jugnauth and his MSM-led government.
According to reports, the assets of ten other people – said to be close to Singh, have also been frozen.
The Judge reportedly ordered the freezing of 11 properties in Mauritius, including land of 4,953 square metres at ‘Au Bout du Monde’ in Ebène, three plots of land of more than 670 square metres in Highland Rose, a plot of 43 acres in Domaine Union Park and another one of 4,600 square metres in Plaines-Wilhems.
The freezing order issued by the Court also reportedly applies to all shares held and interests payable to Sherry Singh and the other 10 people.
They are Danesh Ellayah, Varsha Singh, Smita Adnarain Ellayah, Nawaz Khan Chady, Ismael Ferride (a Malagasy national), Rajindersingh Borthosow, Dhamraj Appadoo as well as Vijaynathji Gurupremnathji and Nilesh Ramanbhai Patel (both are Indian nationals).
After the FIU, the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) is also reportedly expected to join the fray after MT’s management filed a statement in the wake of the investigation initiated by the American company FTI Consulting.
Reacting to the news, Sherry Singh reportedly said he not received any official communication on the Freezing Order, “and it seems to be a political machination.”
Sources: Defi Media, Le Mauricien
