Pravind Jugnauth, the former Prime Minister of Mauritius, has been arrested on charges of money laundering, as confirmed by the state-run Financial Crimes Commission (FCC).
FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye stated that Jugnauth is currently being held at a detention facility in Moka, located in central Mauritius.
The arrest followed a series of searches carried out by FCC investigators at various sites, including Jugnauth’s home, where they seized 114 million Mauritian rupees (approximately R44 million). Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, indicated that his client faces provisional money laundering charges, though he firmly denies the allegations.
This arrest comes amid growing government scrutiny of financial practices in Mauritius. In November, newly appointed Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam launched an audit of public finances due to concerns about the accuracy of data from the previous government. Additionally, the country’s former central bank governor was arrested last month, later released on bail, after facing charges related to conspiracy and fraud.
Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is well-known for its offshore financial services industry and serves as a key financial link between Africa and Asia.
