Pravind Jugnauth, the former Prime Minister of Mauritius, was arrested on Sunday in connection with an ongoing money-laundering investigation. The 63-year-old, who served as the country’s prime minister from 2017 to 2024, was detained along with his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, by local police following raids on several properties linked to the case.
According to police sources, Pravind Jugnauth and his wife were questioned for several hours on Saturday before his formal arrest in the early hours of Sunday. Kobita Jugnauth was later released. The former prime minister’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, denied the allegations, stating that Jugnauth had provided his version of events and would appear before a judge later that day.
The investigation is part of a broader probe into money-laundering activities, which has resulted in significant police action. During the raids, authorities seized luxury watches, cash, and documents at properties associated with other suspects. These included individuals from a local leisure company and a real estate executive, whose homes were also searched. Suitcases containing cash were reportedly found during the search of the real estate executive’s property.
The arrest follows a notice issued by the island’s Financial Crimes Commission, which had requested that the Jugnauths and two other suspects be detained to prevent them from leaving the country. The commission is investigating the financial dealings of the suspects in connection with a money-laundering case that has captured public attention.
Pravind Jugnauth, who is a member of one of Mauritius’s dominant political dynasties, had led the country for seven years before suffering a defeat in the November elections. His tenure included overseeing a historic agreement with Britain regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. The long-running dispute over the islands, which are leased to the United States for a military base, had been a central part of Jugnauth’s foreign policy achievements. However, after losing the election to Navin Ramgoolam, Jugnauth ceded office, and Ramgoolam reopened negotiations over the Chagos Islands, reportedly seeking better financial terms for Mauritius.
Mauritius, a relatively prosperous island nation in the Indian Ocean, became independent from Britain in 1968. Under the leadership of the Jugnauth family, the country has enjoyed relative stability and economic growth. However, the ongoing investigation casts a shadow over the former prime minister’s legacy, and the case is likely to continue to attract significant attention both locally and internationally.
Sources By Agencies