- Ex-Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth arrested for money laundering
- $2.4 million seized from Jugnauth's residence
- Jugnauth denies charges, detained in Moka detention centre
Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has been arrested and is facing charges of money laundering, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) confirmed early Sunday.
According to FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye, Jugnauth “is under arrest” and will be detained at the Moka detention center in the Moka district, located in central Mauritius.
The arrest follows searches conducted by FCC detectives at various locations, including Jugnauth’s residence. During these searches, authorities seized 114 million Mauritius Rupees (approximately $2.4 million), the FCC stated.
Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, confirmed early Sunday that his client has been provisionally charged in connection with an alleged money laundering case. Gulbul further stated that his client denies the charges.
In November, Mauritius’ new Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, announced an audit of the country’s public finances, following concerns over the accuracy of data compiled by the previous administration.
Additionally, last month, the former central bank governor of Mauritius was detained and later released on bail after being charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is known as an offshore financial center, positioning itself as a bridge between Africa and Asia.
