Official Notice: Sale of Jewellery and Watches by the Asset Recovery Unit in Mauritius
This official communication from the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), dated 21 February 2022, provides detailed information regarding the public sale of jewellery and watches recovered under legal proceedings. The sale is conducted through an online auction platform managed by the MRA’s Asset Recovery Investigation Division (ARID), following a court order issued by the Supreme Court of Mauritius.
Context and Purpose of the Sale
The sale aims to dispose of assets identified as proceeds or instruments of unlawful activity, in accordance with the legal framework governing asset recovery in Mauritius. The assets, primarily jewellery and watches, have been seized as part of criminal investigations and are now available for public bidding. This process ensures transparency and fairness, allowing interested individuals and entities to acquire these assets under regulated conditions.
Who Is Eligible to Participate?
The auction is open to all members of the public aged 18 and above, including traders, dealers, and foreign nationals. Participants must be registered on the Mauritius Revenue Authority’s online auction system prior to bidding. Mauritian citizens are required to provide their National Identity Card (NIC) number, while foreign bidders must insert their Passport number during registration. Registration is accessible via the official MRA website, specifically through the e-Auction portal.
Registration and Viewing Procedures
Prospective bidders who are not yet registered must complete the registration process on the MRA’s official website by clicking on the “Register” link on the e-Auction page. All mandatory fields, such as email address, contact numbers, and identification details, must be accurately filled to ensure successful registration.
Items for sale will be displayed on the online platform starting from 09:00 hours on Wednesday, 23 February 2022, until the bidding closes at 12:00 hours on Wednesday, 2 March 2022. For those wishing to physically view the assets, the jewellery and watches will be available at the Customs Warehouse, Lux Shed, Mer Rouge, on Monday, 28 February 2022, from 09:30 to 15:15 hours.
Participation Conditions and Bidding Rules
To participate in the auction, bidders must submit a bid accompanied by a deposit of at least 10% of their bid amount. The deposit must be in the form of a banker’s cheque payable to the “Recovered Asset Fund” and deposited in a designated tender box at the Customs Warehouse before the auction closes. Personal cheques are not accepted.
All bids must be correctly entered into the online system, including details such as bank name, cheque number, and deposit amount. Bids submitted after the deadline or with incomplete information will be rejected. The online platform will facilitate bidding for each item, but bidders cannot place multiple bids on the same item, and bids below the reserve price may be considered during the auction’s third round.
Legal and Administrative References
This auction is conducted under the authority granted by the Supreme Court of Mauritius, as per the order dated 10 November 2021, reference SCR 122401. The sale is carried out on an “as is, where is” basis, meaning that the assets are sold without warranties regarding their condition or specifications. The highest bid accepted by the Tender Committee of ARID will determine the successful purchaser.
Important Notices for Bidders
- All bids are valid for a period of two months from the date of submission.
- Participants must bring their Identity Cards for access to the Customs Warehouse during viewing.
- The system time of the Mauritius Revenue Authority’s online auction platform is final and will be used to determine bid timing.
- In case of unsuccessful bids, deposits will be refunded; for successful bids, the deposit will be forfeited if the bidder fails to complete the purchase.
This process exemplifies Mauritius’s commitment to transparency in asset recovery and public asset disposal, ensuring that recovered assets are managed responsibly and in accordance with legal standards.