Financial Crimes Commission of Mauritius says a large sum of money was found at ex-prime minister’s home
16 February 2025 - 16:01
byVillen Anganan
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth. Picture: ALLY SOOBYE/REUTERS
Port Louis — Former Mauritius prime minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested and is facing money laundering charges, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission said early on Sunday.
Jugnauth “is under arrest”, FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye said, adding that he will be detained in Moka detention centre in the Moka district in central Mauritius.
The arrest followed searches by FCC detectives of different locations, including Jugnauth’s residence, during which they found and seized 114-million Mauritius rupees ($2.4-million), the FCC said.
Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, told reporters early on Sunday that his client has been provisionally charged in an alleged case of money laundering. Gulbul said his client denied the charges.
In November, Mauritius’ new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced an audit of the public finances days after questioning the accuracy of some government data compiled by the previous administration.
The country’s former central bank governor was detained last month and released on bail after he was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
An Indian Ocean archipelago, Mauritius is an offshore financial centre that markets itself as a link between Africa and Asia.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Former Mauritius PM arrested for money laundering
Financial Crimes Commission of Mauritius says a large sum of money was found at ex-prime minister’s home
Port Louis — Former Mauritius prime minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested and is facing money laundering charges, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission said early on Sunday.
Jugnauth “is under arrest”, FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye said, adding that he will be detained in Moka detention centre in the Moka district in central Mauritius.
The arrest followed searches by FCC detectives of different locations, including Jugnauth’s residence, during which they found and seized 114-million Mauritius rupees ($2.4-million), the FCC said.
Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, told reporters early on Sunday that his client has been provisionally charged in an alleged case of money laundering. Gulbul said his client denied the charges.
In November, Mauritius’ new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced an audit of the public finances days after questioning the accuracy of some government data compiled by the previous administration.
The country’s former central bank governor was detained last month and released on bail after he was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
An Indian Ocean archipelago, Mauritius is an offshore financial centre that markets itself as a link between Africa and Asia.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.