Air Mauritius faces police and FCC probes over alleged falsified reports and diverted rescue funds
via Le Mauricien4 min read
Air Mauritius is under investigation by the police and the Financial Crimes Commission following a forensic inquiry by Kroll Middle East Consultancy Ltd into aircraft sales and leases from 2014 to 2024. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam stated that the national airline incurred significant losses from these operations, and falsified reports were allegedly submitted to the Air Mauritius board. Ken Arian, former head of Airports Holding Limited, and Sattar Hajee Abdoula, former Top Gun of Air Mauritius's Voluntary Administration, have been implicated by the Kroll report's findings. The inquiry revealed that Air Mauritius sold four aircraft between December 2014 and December 2024, resulting in a net loss of approximately Rs 1.2 billion. Confidentiality clauses prevent the disclosure of total proceeds from these sales. During the same period, 11 aircraft were added to the fleet through direct purchase, finance leases, and operating leases, with costs also undisclosed due to confidentiality agreements. Additionally, 11 aircraft were grounded 100 times between 2014 and 2024 due to technical issues, unavailability of spare parts, lack of spare engines, and supply chain constraints. The Air Mauritius board commissioned the Kroll investigation last year to examine the sale or disposal of five aircraft during the voluntary administration period of 2020-2021, as well as the leasing of two A330-200s in 2022 and the order for an additional A350-900 in 2023. The board met on June 25 and 29, 2
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