The president of the Bar Council of Mauritius, Me Antoine Domingue, has called on the Prime Minister and all Mauritian judicial authorities. An encouraging development for the defense. Yesterday, the judge in chambers, Carol Green-Jokhoo, gave the green light to allow Mamy Ravatomanga's lawyer to meet his client in prison to prepare and better coordinate the defense. The Supreme Court therefore granted a favorable response to an urgent request filed by Master Khushal Lobine, who wished to meet his client before the bail hearing, scheduled to resume today before the Bail and Remand Court. According to Top FM Mauritius, it was the prison commissioner's refusal, who had completely ignored his official request filed on September 2, that prompted the defense lawyer to appeal to the highest judicial authority in Mauritius. Having won his case before the Supreme Court, Me Khushal Lobine was able to meet his client yesterday, between noon and 3 p.m., at Melrose prison. And as the defense wished, the meeting took place out of earshot of prison officers. However, for security reasons, visual surveillance was maintained. For three hours, they were able to finalize the last details of instructions before the big day. Unless there is a last-minute change, the powerful Malagasy businessman should learn his fate today.
Excessively Restrictive Management
In any case, this case is taking an unexpected turn. According to Top FM Mauritius, this initiative by Master Khushal Lobine before the Supreme Court has highlighted problems related to lawyers' access to their clients in prison, and also reveals non-compliance with the principle of confidentiality of legal consultations, as well as non-respect of fundamental rights in the exercise of defense. The prison commissioner is particularly singled out. Facing the Mamy Ravatomanga case, the president of the Bar Council of Mauritius, Me Antoine Domingue, has called on the Mauritian Prime Minister and all judicial authorities in that country. This senior official believes, according to our colleagues, that this is not the first time the prison commissioner has imposed excessively restrictive management that violates fundamental rights. Placed in provisional detention at Melrose high-security prison since October 25, 2025, the president and chief executive of the SODIAT group has now been incarcerated without trial for more than 10 months.