FCC in Crisis: Rs 7.3 Billion Graft Probe Overshadows Commissioner’s Departure

The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) has requested the Passport and Immigration Office to be notified if its former Commissioner, Junaid Haroon Fakim, attempts to leave Mauritian territory. This unusual move comes immediately after his sudden resignation amidst an institutional crisis.

Fakim’s resignation, effective from October 25, 2025, was officially announced by the FCC on Sunday, October 26, via a brief statement citing “personal reasons.” His resignation letter was submitted to the President of the Republic of Mauritius.

The Commission issued a formal request to be informed (“Report on departure”) if the ex-Commissioner seeks to travel abroad.

Resignation During Major Scandal

The departure of Mr. Fakim coincides with a period of severe internal tension and high-profile investigations being conducted by the FCC.

• Influence Peddling Probe: The Commission is grappling with a suspected attempt at influence peddling aimed at interfering with its work.
• This follows the arrest on Saturday of political activist Nasser Osman Bheeky at SSR airport as he was about to fly to Dubai.
• Mr. Bheeky has been provisionally charged for allegedly attempting to influence an FCC executive regarding a case.
• Emergency Meeting: A crisis meeting was reportedly held overnight from Friday to Saturday at the FCC’s headquarters, the Réduit Triangle, to discuss the “grave” situation, where the institution was allegedly informed of an attempt at “intermediation” to solicit intervention for a suspect in an ongoing inquiry.
• Major Financial Investigation: The internal turbulence surrounds a major FCC investigation into alleged illicit financial transfers involving Malagasy businessman Mamy Ravatomanga.
• This probe is valued at over Rs 7.3 billion in suspicious financial flows and is one of the most significant ever opened by the FCC, touching upon political lobbying and cross-border business networks, including those in Mauritius.

Institutional Impact and Future

Internal reports suggest the resignation occurred in this tense climate, with some citing the need to “preserve the credibility of the Commission.”

• The seat of the FCC Commissioner is now vacant, with a new appointment expected shortly. The key question for observers is whether the investigation into Ravatomanga will continue with the same intensity following this high-profile departure.
• The former Commissioner’s figure holds additional symbolism: he is the son of a former Central Electricity Board (CEB) chairman who was suspended under contested conditions on the basis of never-established suspicions of information disclosure.

The request for a “Report on departure” is an instruction typically issued by the FCC to the Passport and Immigration Office to prevent individuals under investigation from leaving the country without prior Commission authorisation.

Source: Le Mauricien / Le Mauricien2