The Caisse Noire Affair was a scandal which exposed the illegal practices[1] within the national airline carrier Air Mauritius between 1981 and 2001.[2]
The illicit bank account had been set up following Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam's request for funds in 1981 to assist Advance which was the ailing propaganda newspaper of the Labour Party.[3]
In October 2001 Gérard Tyack, who was General Manager and Financial Director of Air Mauritius, revealed details of the Swiss bank account in Geneva for the payment to officials of Air Mauritius, journalists and politicians. The funds had also been used to finance political newspapers, electoral campaigns, purchase of private cars for Sir Harry's wife and their daughters' overseas studies. The existence of the illicit Swiss bank account had been earlier revealed by whistle blower employees Vijay Poonoosamy, Mike Seetaramadoo et C. Bastien who were then sacked by the management. Former MP and trade unionist Jack Bizlall assisted them in making the revelations to authorities.[4]
On 22 February 2002 Sir Harry Tirvengadum and other officials of the national airline company and Rogers Limited were arrested and prosecuted.[5] The cash-book produced by Gérard Tyack had been deemed to be genuine by magistrates Benjamin Marie-Joseph, Nicolas Ohsan-Bellepeau et Renuka Devi Dabee. The cash-book revealed details of funds that had been transferred to the names of well known Mauritian politicians and businessmen.[6] In a separate matter whereby Rama Valayden was being prosecuted for defaming Jayen Cuttarree Gérard Tyack revealed that he had paid Jayen Cuttarree from the illicit bank account in order to finance the MMM's propaganda newspaper Le Nouveau Militant. Tyack further detailed that it had become customary for him to frequently pay various political figures sums ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 500,000 from the same account.[7]
In December 2007 the prosecution against Sir Harry Tirvengadum was suspended under Navin Ramgoolam's PTr-PMXD-VF-MR-MMSM coalition government as magistrates deemed that his poor health would not give him a fair trial. He was being sued by the management of Air Mauritius for swindling Rs 85 Millions from 1984 to 1996. [8]
In 2010 as Harry Tirvengadum's health had improved the prosecution case was resumed. Although ex-CEO Soobhiraj Bungsraz only headed Air Mauritius for 2 months he managed to convince the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to re-open the case against Tirvengadum. Bungsraz even consulted with Tirvengadum shortly before leaving the company to migrate to Australia.[9][10]
Aftermath
Gérard Tyack spent 2 years in jail, Robert Rivalland of Rogers Limited was acquitted in 2015,[11] where as the prosecution against Sir Harry Tirvengadum was placed on hold as he complained of ill health.[12]
^"Gérard Tyack explique le mécanisme de la caisse noire (2006)". L'Express. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
^"'Rien ne pourra être comme auparavant à la suite du retrait de Jugnauth'". Mauritius Times. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
^"Gérard Tyack explique le mécanisme de la caisse noire (2006)". L'Express. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
^Meetarbhan, Raj. "Lumière sur la caisse noire". L'Express. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
^"Tyack reveals how he paid Cuttarree using Caisse Noire". 5 Plus. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
^Meetarbhan, Raj. "Lumière sur la caisse noire". L'Express. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
^Meetarbhan, Raj. "Lumière sur la caisse noire". L'Express. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
^"Air Mauritius : le procès contre Harry Tirvengadum va reprendre". L'Express. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
^Moorlah, Suresh (23 October 2015). "Caisse noire d'Air Mauritius: Robert Rivalland acquitté". L'Express. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
^"La Caisse Noire de Tyack". 5 Plus. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
March 18, 2023
caisse, noire, affair, scandal, which, exposed, illegal, practices, within, national, airline, carrier, mauritius, between, 1981, 2001, contents, history, aftermath, also, referenceshistory, editthe, illicit, bank, account, been, following, seewoosagur, ramgoo. The Caisse Noire Affair was a scandal which exposed the illegal practices 1 within the national airline carrier Air Mauritius between 1981 and 2001 2 Contents 1 History 2 Aftermath 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditThe illicit bank account had been set up following Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam s request for funds in 1981 to assist Advance which was the ailing propaganda newspaper of the Labour Party 3 In October 2001 Gerard Tyack who was General Manager and Financial Director of Air Mauritius revealed details of the Swiss bank account in Geneva for the payment to officials of Air Mauritius journalists and politicians The funds had also been used to finance political newspapers electoral campaigns purchase of private cars for Sir Harry s wife and their daughters overseas studies The existence of the illicit Swiss bank account had been earlier revealed by whistle blower employees Vijay Poonoosamy Mike Seetaramadoo et C Bastien who were then sacked by the management Former MP and trade unionist Jack Bizlall assisted them in making the revelations to authorities 4 On 22 February 2002 Sir Harry Tirvengadum and other officials of the national airline company and Rogers Limited were arrested and prosecuted 5 The cash book produced by Gerard Tyack had been deemed to be genuine by magistrates Benjamin Marie Joseph Nicolas Ohsan Bellepeau et Renuka Devi Dabee The cash book revealed details of funds that had been transferred to the names of well known Mauritian politicians and businessmen 6 In a separate matter whereby Rama Valayden was being prosecuted for defaming Jayen Cuttarree Gerard Tyack revealed that he had paid Jayen Cuttarree from the illicit bank account in order to finance the MMM s propaganda newspaper Le Nouveau Militant Tyack further detailed that it had become customary for him to frequently pay various political figures sums ranging from Rs 20 000 to Rs 500 000 from the same account 7 In December 2007 the prosecution against Sir Harry Tirvengadum was suspended under Navin Ramgoolam s PTr PMXD VF MR MMSM coalition government as magistrates deemed that his poor health would not give him a fair trial He was being sued by the management of Air Mauritius for swindling Rs 85 Millions from 1984 to 1996 8 In 2010 as Harry Tirvengadum s health had improved the prosecution case was resumed Although ex CEO Soobhiraj Bungsraz only headed Air Mauritius for 2 months he managed to convince the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP to re open the case against Tirvengadum Bungsraz even consulted with Tirvengadum shortly before leaving the company to migrate to Australia 9 10 Aftermath EditGerard Tyack spent 2 years in jail Robert Rivalland of Rogers Limited was acquitted in 2015 11 where as the prosecution against Sir Harry Tirvengadum was placed on hold as he complained of ill health 12 See also EditCorruption in MauritiusReferences Edit Editorial MK 28 April 2020 Putting the Country First Mauritius Times Retrieved 2020 04 28 La caisse noire d Air Mauritius a Geneve 2001 Swiss Info Retrieved 2020 12 03 Gerard Tyack explique le mecanisme de la caisse noire 2006 L Express Retrieved 2020 12 03 Rien ne pourra etre comme auparavant a la suite du retrait de Jugnauth Mauritius Times 7 November 2016 Retrieved 2016 11 07 Gerard Tyack explique le mecanisme de la caisse noire 2006 L Express Retrieved 2020 12 03 Meetarbhan Raj Lumiere sur la caisse noire L Express Retrieved 2010 11 09 Tyack reveals how he paid Cuttarree using Caisse Noire 5 Plus Retrieved 2009 10 08 Meetarbhan Raj Lumiere sur la caisse noire L Express Retrieved 2010 11 09 Meetarbhan Raj Lumiere sur la caisse noire L Express Retrieved 2010 11 09 Air Mauritius le proces contre Harry Tirvengadum va reprendre L Express 11 December 2010 Retrieved 2010 12 11 Moorlah Suresh 23 October 2015 Caisse noire d Air Mauritius Robert Rivalland acquitte L Express Retrieved 2015 10 23 La Caisse Noire de Tyack 5 Plus Retrieved 2020 12 03 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caisse Noire Affair amp oldid 1121004132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
