Sherry Singh, former director general of Mauritius Telecom, was questioned by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) on October 2 as a witness regarding his role in the Transformation Steering Committee (TSC) of Air Mauritius. He led the committee at the beginning of 2020. The TSC was established to oversee the restructuring of Air Mauritius, examining consultant proposals, making recommendations to the board of directors, and monitoring the implementation of decisions.
The FCC is investigating a consultancy contract awarded to Grant Thornton Advisory Services, then led by Sattar Hajee Abdoula, without a call for tenders. Air Mauritius paid Rs 3.7 million to Grant Thornton Advisory Services. Sattar Hajee Abdoula was arrested in November 2025 as part of this investigation. At the end of January 2020, when Sherry Singh supervised the TSC, Sattar Hajee Abdoula was not yet a member of the Air Mauritius board of directors, joining in April 2020.
Sherry Singh stated that he was not aware of a consultancy report from Grant Thornton during his tenure at the TSC. This timeline is crucial for investigators, who aim to establish the circumstances surrounding the preparation, approval, and payment of the contract. The FCC seeks to determine who decided to award the contract and authorized the payment, considering Air Mauritius' difficult financial situation at the time.
The investigation may also focus on other board members and officials involved in decisions made during this period, who will likely be questioned again. The goal is to reconstruct the decision-making chain from the consultant selection to contract validation and fund disbursement. This case had a significant judicial development, with the provisional charge of money laundering against Sattar Hajee Abdoula being dropped.
The magistrate allowed the FCC to continue its investigation, leaving the role of each party to be clarified. Sherry Singh's testimony is expected to help investigators understand the functioning of the transformation committee and decisions related to consultancy services during Air Mauritius' major crisis. The committee's role and decisions made around consultancy services are under scrutiny.
Sherry Singh's statement that he never received the consultancy report may have significant implications for the investigation. The FCC's findings could potentially reveal irregularities in the awarding of the contract and the use of funds at Air Mauritius. Further testimonies and evidence will be crucial in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the consultancy contract.
The case raises questions about governance and oversight at Air Mauritius during a critical period. The airline's financial struggles and the consultancy contract have drawn attention to the decision-making processes within the company. As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge about the roles of various individuals involved.
Key points
- Sherry Singh claims he was unaware of the Grant Thornton consultancy report during his tenure at the TSC.
- The FCC is investigating a Rs 3.7 million payment by Air Mauritius to Grant Thornton Advisory Services.
- The probe aims to establish the decision-making chain behind the consultancy contract awarded without a call for tenders.
