Friday morning at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) started without any hint that it would soon be the scene of a tragedy. The discovery of the dead body of customer service supervisor, Gérald Lagesse, 49, in the bank?s vault around 9.30 sent shivers down the employees? spines as well as those of the public at large. Gérald Lagesse, who was replacing one of his colleagues ? on holiday for the Spring Festival in Rodrigues ? for a few days at the vault, was in the mess having a cup of tea only a few minutes before he was violently killed.

He was found ?lying inert on the floor inside the main vault, his feet and hands bound with adhesive tape, his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth and his shirt bearing traces of blood,? says the police report. The forensic scientists attribute his death to suffocation. Papers were found stuffed into his mouth.

The fact that one or more persons could enter the vault of the MCB, known as the most secure place in the bank, kill a person and get away with Rs 51 million in hand looks simply incredible. All the bank?s cash assets are stored in this specific area. There are various theories about this criminal act, but the police seem to be on one particular trail.

They have found the white 2WD that left the MCB parking lot on Friday morning a few minutes after the crime. However, its owner, a bus driver, has not been traced so far. Three other suspects who were said to be in the vehicle, are wanted by the police, who have circulated their photographs. Satroojetsingh Sotrooghan, the owner of the 2WD, Mohamed Jiawed Ruhumutally and Daniel Désiré Steve Monvoisin are all inhabitants of Plaisance, Rose-Hill. The latter?s mother is said to have called the police on Friday morning to warn them that a hold-up was being plotted.

The crime seems to have been meticulously planned. Fifteen minutes were enough. The vault has armour-plated doors and only the seven people possessing the codes and the authorisation to enter can open it. This is why three attendants, suspected of conspiracy, are in police custody. One of them, Faizal Asraf Boodhoo, was the last person to see Gérald Lagesse alive and also the one who found his dead body on the floor of the vault. The two others are Teddy Soobraydoo and Pooveden Subramayan. The three have denied the charges of conspiracy to commit larceny by violence.

Everything points to the fact that bank employees may be involved in the conspiracy to commit this odious crime. However, the extent of their involvement is not yet known.

Everyone is hoping for the crime to be cleared up very rapidly, especially the MCB staff. The latter seem traumatised by the event and now have fears for their own security. The fact that the most secure place in the bank could be attacked gives them the impression that there is nowhere they can feel safe now. The police are ready to get on with the hard job ahead? It is only when the criminals are caught that the family will be able to grieve for Gérald Lagesse and the bank start rebuilding its reputation? Once again!

<B>A man cherished by family and friends</B>

Gérald Lagesse is described as a kind gentleman always ready to help. All those who knew him say he was a modest person who lived only for his family and the ones he loved. As for his wife, Marie Frédérique, and his daughter, Marie Bénédicte, their feeling of revolt is as strong as their grief.

They can?t understand how such violence could be perpetrated against such a quiet man. His parents, Alphonse and Annie, are as disorientated by what they consider an untimely death?

?Everything points to the fact that bank employees may be involved in the conspiracy to commit the crime. But the extent of their involvement is not yet known.?<?i>