Suspects say they rented boat reported stolen in Mauritius
Two suspects repatriated from Réunion were arrested in Mauritius after a boat reported stolen in Grand-Baie was recovered. The anti-drug squad is following the case on a route popular with cannabis traffickers.
On Reunion Island, the gendarmes had nothing to reproach the suspects after the Mao was stranded on the sister island. On the other hand, upon their arrival in Mauritius after being repatriated on Friday, the airport police arrested Kamlesh Bolaky, 50, a welder living at La Tour Koenig, and Stephen Ambalavani, a 32-year-old mechanic living Petite-Rivière.
They were handed over to the men of Inspector Thakoor of the CID of Grand-Baie for questioning, because the boat estimated at Rs 2.5 million had been reported stolen in Grand-Baie by its owner, a Frenchman, in the evening from May 29.
The suspects explained that they had rented the boat of Jérôme Roger Agathe, a resident of Cassis, for a fishing trip. A version that investigators take with a grain of salt, because the Mauritius-Reunion maritime route is very popular with cannabis traffickers. Kamlesh Bolaky and Stephen Ambalavani appeared before the Bail and Remand Court on Saturday, where a provisional charge of theft was filed against them.
They were taken back to the cell. Jérôme Roger Agathe, a 38-year-old welder and close friend of the boat's owner, was arrested in this case after the suspects' version. He declared that he will give his version of the facts in the presence of his lawyer. The anti-drug squad is also following this case.
As a reminder, on Thursday May 30, the Mao ran aground at Champ-Borne, in Saint-André. A large police force was mobilized after the incident. Our two compatriots were initially handcuffed and, after the inspection of the boat, the theory of trafficking was ruled out.
The police did not find anything incriminating on the boat. The two Mauritians were taken to hospital for treatment and were then repatriated.
Source: L'Express Maurice