Shakeel Mohamed's property acquisition sparks controversy and data leak investigation
Controversy has arisen around the acquisition of a 35 million rupee apartment in Bain-Bœuf by Shakeel Mohamed, the Minister of Housing and Lands, and his wife. The issue began after an opposition-affiliated website published a report questioning the property, which is located in a complex on state land. While the Financial Crimes Commission FCC has since confirmed that the minister declared the property, questions remain regarding the lease, building permits, and the development's compliance with coastal regulations, particularly the 30-meter setback rule from the high tide line. Mohamed denies any wrongdoing, stating the lease predates his time as minister and that the complex was built under permits not issued by him or his ministry. He also asserts his financial capacity to make the purchase, citing his 35 years as a lawyer. The minister challenged the FCC to publish his declarations after the property initially appeared to be missing from the public register. The FCC later confirmed the declaration was filed and attributed its temporary absence online to a technical issue. Separately, Mohamed has initiated an investigation with the Registrar General to identify the source of a leak that led to his notarized deed and signature appearing on social media. He is seeking a list of individuals who accessed these documents between July 1 and August 14, 2026. This move raises questions about balancing personal data protection with the public's right to information and the potenti
