STC Whistleblower Tengur Raises Rice, Canned Goods and Rs 10M Tax Row

The abrupt dismissal of the entire board of the State Trading Corporation (STC) on 30 September has taken a sharper turn, with former independent board member Suttyhudeo Tengur — who represented consumer interests — going public with three specific governance disputes he says led to his removal. The STC is a Mauritian state body responsible for importing and distributing essential commodities including fuel, rice, flour and cooking gas. Its board members are appointed by government, and Tengur served as its independent consumer representative. After an initial statement that he himself described as "not very clear," Tengur has now detailed three cases where he says he stood in opposition to board decisions. **Case 1: A Shipment of Pakistani Rice** Tengur claims the STC sought to approve an import order for rice from Pakistan without adequate documentation. He says he demanded a due diligence audit and an independent laboratory analysis certificate before the shipment could proceed. When those documents were not produced to his satisfaction, he used his right of veto — applicable because the decision required board unanimity — effectively blocking the cargo from being imported. The shipment, he says, was held up at the port as a result. **Case 2: Canned Foods from Asia** The second dispute involves a planned import of canned food products from an unspecified Asian country. Tengur says he refused to approve the order because the board lacked certified health and quality certificates. According to him, the import was ultimately cancelled following his opposition. **Case 3: A Rs 10 Million Tax Dispute the Board Wanted to Write Off** This is the most significant allegation. Tengur says the board was considering writing off a tax liability of more than Rs 10 million (approximately USD 220,000) related to a 2019 dispute over fuel deemed to be of poor quality. The case involves the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), the country's tax collection body. Tengur implies he opposed this write-off, though the original report cuts off before full details are provided. **What This Means** These allegations — if accurate — raise serious questions about procurement standards and financial oversight at one of Mauritius's most strategically important public bodies. The STC controls the supply of goods that directly affect the cost of living for all Mauritians, from the price of bread to petrol at the pump. Tengur's account has not yet been confirmed or contradicted by the STC or the government. No official response to his specific claims had been published at the time of reporting. The institution has so far remained silent on the reasons behind the collective board dismissal. The story is developing, and accountability advocates and opposition figures are likely to demand a formal inquiry into the three cases Tengur has raised. Source: ION News