Ex-BAI Administrator Denies International Mandate in High-Stakes Legal Battle

The former special administrator of BAI Co. (Mtius) Ltd., Mohamad Yacoob Ayoob Hajee Allymamode Ramtoola, has staunchly denied acting under any international directive or control during his tenure.

In an affidavit filed at the Supreme Court on Monday, November 10, Mr Ramtoola asserted that he performed his duties “strictly in his personal statutory capacity,” pushing back against suggestions that the administration of the dismantled British American Investment (BAI) group was influenced by any parent company or global structure.

Ramtoola’s Defence

Mr Ramtoola’s filing comes as part of a complex legal struggle surrounding the collapse of the BAI, which was dismantled by authorities.

• No International Instruction: Mr Ramtoola specifically stated, “I have neither sought nor received instructions, resources, database or supervision from Brussels Worldwide Services BV,” the entity within the BDO network.
• Personal Capacity: The affidavit clarifies that the roles of special administrator and liquidator are personal appointments, bestowed individually by the Court or the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and are not firm-wide mandates.
• Rejection of Influence: He explicitly rejected the argument that BAI’s administration was influenced or directed by a ‘parent company.’

BDO Entity Confirms Limited Role

The filing was part of a double submission, which also saw Brussels Worldwide Services BV, an entity of the BDO network, submit its own affidavit.

• Coordination Only: Simon Coppée, representing the Belgian entity, reiterated that Brussels Worldwide Services’ function is purely to coordinate the BDO network.
• No Control Over Members: The entity “exercises no control or supervision over member firms,” and played no role in the management or decisions made by BDO Mauritius, Mr Ramtoola, or Georges Elie Chung Ming Kan (liquidator of Bramer Banking Corporation Ltd).

Wider Legal Context

The affidavits from Mr Ramtoola and Brussels Worldwide Services BV follow similar submissions by PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd and Grant Thornton International Ltd.

• Action Against Rawat: These filings are linked to individual actions brought by the three international firms against businessman Dawood Rawat.
• Disputing Summons: The firms are contesting their summons in a massive Rs 100 billion claim filed by Mr Rawat.
• Targeted Parties: Mr Rawat’s claim has been lodged against a wide range of parties, including audit firms, public institutions, and former political figures, following the high-profile demise of the BAI.

Source: Defi Media