The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) in Mauritius has maintained its objections to the bail request of Steven Moothoocurpen, a 35-year-old resident of Petit-Verger, Saint-Pierre. Moothoocurpen is facing a provisional charge of "conspiracy to pervert the course of justice" in connection with an investigation into a alleged leak of confidential information. The FCC's objections were heard at the Moka tribunal, where Moothoocurpen's lawyer, Me Neil Pillay, had requested his client's release on bail.
According to the FCC, certain elements of the investigation cannot be disclosed at this stage. The Commission's representatives, Mes Trishul Naga and Sweta Ramsooroop, cited concerns over the risk of flight and interference with witnesses. Moothoocurpen's arrest on September 2, 2026, was related to the discovery of confidential documents on his phone, which sparked an investigation into the origin and transmission of the documents.
The case involves the analysis of a phone seized from Moothoocurpen during a previous arrest. Forensic examination revealed documents presented as confidential and related to FCC investigations. The FCC aims to determine how these documents ended up on Moothoocurpen's phone and who may have been involved in their transmission. Moothoocurpen denies knowledge of the confidential document found on his device.
This is not Moothoocurpen's first encounter with the FCC. In August 2025, he was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, and in March 2026, he was detained in connection with the importation of synthetic drugs worth Rs 75.9 million. These cases are separate from the current investigation into alleged leaks of confidential information.
During the hearing, Me Neil Pillay argued that no evidence had been presented to implicate Moothoocurpen in the alleged offenses. He also raised concerns about the role of FCC Director General Titrudeo Dawoodarry, suggesting that Dawoodarry had directly implicated his client. The court has scheduled further hearings on the bail request for October 2, 2026.
Moothoocurpen's occupation involves buying, restoring, and reselling vehicles, according to his statements to investigators. His lawyer has maintained that his client is innocent and should be released on bail. The FCC's investigation is ongoing, with Inspector Sivanenden Thandrayen testifying that certain aspects of the case cannot be disclosed at this time.
The bail request will continue to be debated on October 2, 2026, with Moothoocurpen remaining in detention in the meantime. The FCC's objections to his release have been sustained, citing concerns over the potential risks to the investigation.
Key points
- The FCC has objected to Steven Moothoocurpen's bail request due to concerns over investigation secrecy and the risk of flight.
- Moothoocurpen faces a provisional charge of "conspiracy to pervert the course of justice" related to an alleged leak of confidential information.
- The case involves the discovery of confidential documents on Moothoocurpen's phone, sparking an investigation into their origin and transmission.
