Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has been arrested on charges of money laundering, according to the state-run Financial Crimes Commission (FCC).
FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye confirmed that Jugnauth is currently in custody at a detention center in Moka, a district in central Mauritius.
The arrest followed a series of searches conducted by FCC detectives at various locations, including Jugnauth's residence, where investigators seized 114 million Mauritius rupees (approximately R44 million). Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, stated that his client has been provisionally charged with money laundering, but he vehemently denies the accusations.
This arrest comes on the heels of recent government actions to investigate financial practices in the country. In November, the newly appointed Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam initiated an audit of public finances, following concerns over the accuracy of data from the previous administration. The country’s former central bank governor was also detained last month and later released on bail after facing charges related to conspiracy and fraud.
Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is known for being an offshore financial hub and is often marketed as a strategic link between Africa and Asia.