The last hope of solving the biggest financial scandal known to the country now lies with the Central Criminal Investigation Division (CCID). The Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac) is seriously thinking of advising the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to proceed with certain aspects of the case.

Since the beginning, the Icac has kept on committing blunders. Despite the huge sum involved – Rs 881,6 million were embezzled from accounts at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) to the detriment of the National Pensions Fund (NPF) – the Icac has not tackled the legal issues seriously enough.

One of the major problems mentioned at the time was that the case should never have been entrusted to the Icac as the alleged crimes were committed well before the advent of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Poca). But this was far from the main problem; the courts had to call the Icac to task on several occasions for breach of the procedures in the enquiry.

The result is that the alleged main beneficiary of the funds, Teeren Appasamy, is still living undisturbed in London though extradition procedures started in 2004. Despite his denial – he maintains he obtained loans of up to Rs 401 million against due guarantees – the Icac has always believed that he was the one pulling the strings.

Four other suspects are eagerly waiting for the DPP’s ruling, as they have been provisionally charged. Dev Manraj, a manager and consultant in some of Teeren Appasamy’s companies, has been charged with bribery and illegal payments on behalf of the businessman. He is, however, adamant that he knew nothing about the alleged fraudulent transactions.

Donald Ha Yeung, proxy holder in some of Appasamy’s companies, is suspected of receiving Rs 2 million from the embezzled money. He, however, insists that all transactions done for the companies had the agreement of the MCB – represented at the time by Robert Lesage.

Further questioning by police</B>