Mauritius: 31.9 Million Fraud Against the MRA Uncovered

In a scandal that has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) has unveiled a colossal fraud amounting to Rs 31.9 million, perpetrated against the government’s “Prime à l’emploi Scheme” administered by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). Tomeshwarnath Ramlowat, a former employee of State Informatics Limited, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme involving claiming grants for 285 fictitious employees.

The lexpress.mu has reported that Investigators from the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) searched the home of Tomeshwarnath Ramlowat, 51, in Solferino No. 4 yesterday.

They seized several computer equipment and documents related to his fictitious companies. After several hours of questioning, he was arrested under

• Sections 3(1)(b), 6, and 8 of the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act for money laundering.

He will be presented before the court in Port-Louis this morning for his request for bail.

According to the indictment, between May 30, 2023, and March 4, 2024, Tomeshwarnath Ramlowat was allegedly

• In possession, as a director of several companies, of Rs 20,715,000 deposited in various bank accounts. Investigators suspect these funds come from criminal activity.

The FCC has lifted the veil on a fraud involving the government's employment bonus program through the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), intended to promote the professional integration of young women and people with disabilities.

The alleged instigator of this fraudulent scheme, Tomeshwarnath Ramlowat, is a former employee of States Informatics Ltd and an information technology specialist.

According to the investigation, he fraudulently registered about fifteen people for the program using their real identities, claiming they were employed in his various companies.

The case erupted following complaints lodged by several people with the MRA, stating that they had never received the monthly allowances of Rs 15,000 promised under the programme. These testimonies alerted the authorities, who quickly transferred the case to the FCC.

The investigation found eight companies, all registered in Ramlowat's name, including these six:-

1. Mausage Ltd,
2. Reliance Training Ltd,
3. Reliance Foods Ltd,
4. Reliance Partners Ltd,
5. Smith, Williamson & Partners (Mtius) and
6. Sagex Consulting Ltd

These companies filed fraudulent claims through the MRA's online portal and declared 285 fictitious employees, which allowed them to pocket Rs 31,977,700 between April 2023 and February 2024.

According to the FCC, the MRA's automated processing system, based on contributions to the Widespread Social Contribution, the National Solidarity Fund, and the Training Levy, validated the claims without detecting irregularities.

However, further analysis of the funds' traceability revealed that Rs 14,797,729 had been directly transferred to personal bank accounts.

The embezzled funds were allegedly used for suspicious financial transactions, including cryptocurrency investments via the https://www.binance.com/en platform, overseas real estate acquisitions, including a property in Dubai, and the financing of shell companies.

The FCC is continuing its investigations to determine whether there are other accomplices locally or abroad, and to freeze the remaining funds.

Source

• https://lexpress.mu/s/la-fcc-decouvre-un-reseau-de-societes-fictives-et-de-faux-employes-544964?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=LinkedIn#Echobox=1746510923-1
• https://newsmoris.com/2025/05/06/tomeshwarnath-ramlowats-rs-31-9-million-fraud-against-the-mra-uncovered/

FOR MORE INFORMATION, READ STORY 1 BELOW

STORY NO1 - FCC Mauritius reveal Rs 31.9 million "Employment Bonus" fraud using eight shell companies

The lexpress.mu has reported that the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) has revealed a massive fraud involving Rs 31.9 million (£525,000.00) in the "Employment Bonus" program.

This "Employment Bonus" scheme aims to promote hiring young Mauritian women and people with disabilities by granting employers a monthly allowance of Rs 15,000.

A fake employer, the sole director and shareholder of eight shell companies, submitted online applications to the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) for 285 fictitious employees between April 2023 and February 2024.

The MRA's systems validated the claims, based on false statements, resulting in the disbursement of the funds.

According to initial analyses, nearly Rs 14.8 million was transferred to the applicants' personal bank accounts.

Fifteen fake employees were questioned: none received money or worked for the companies mentioned.

The embezzled funds are said to have been used for:-

• Overseas real estate investments,
• Cryptocurrency transactions via Binance.com and
• The purchase of luxury vehicles.

Source -

https://lexpress.mu/s/285-faux-employes-huit-societes-fictives-la-fcc-demantele-un-reseau-et-expose-une-fraude-de-rs-32-m-liee-a-la-mra-544943?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=LinkedIn#Echobox=1746442058-1