Pravind Jugnauth, Former Mauritius PM, Arrested Over Money-Laundering Case

Ex-Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was arrested on Sunday in connection with a money laundering case. The 63-year-old and his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, were arrested on Saturday. The duo was interrogated by the police for hours, and the police also conducted raids on several other suspects’ houses, seizing huge stocks of cash and luxury goods.

Kobita Jugnauth was subsequently released, while her husband was officially arrested early on Sunday morning. Pravind Jugnauth’s attorney, Raouf Gulbul, said, “He gave his version of events and denied the allegations made against him.” He added that Jugnauth would be brought before a judge later on Sunday for further proceedings.

Raids and Cash Seizures Spark Investigation

The police raided the residences of some of the people associated with the case, including an employee of a local leisure company. The police incident report said officers found documents related to the Jugnauths, as well as luxury watches and piles of different currencies. Authorities also raided the residence of a local real estate executive, where they found suitcases full of cash.

Mauritius Financial Crimes Commission previously asked the police to arrest the Jugnauths and two other suspects if they tried to flee the country. This came in light of current investigations into a high-profile case of money laundering.

Political Background and Recent Defeat

Pravind Jugnauth, the former prime minister of Mauritius between 2017 and 2024, is a member of one of the nation’s most powerful political dynasties. During his tenure, Mauritius regained control of the Chagos Islands in a historic deal with Britain. The Chagos Islands have been a source of contention between the two countries for years.

Jugnauth’s administration suffered a significant setback during the November polls, in which he and his Socialist Movement lost comprehensively. Centre-left prime minister Navin Ramgoolam returned for the third time, reviving the Chagos talks with Britain. The new administration demands increased financial remuneration and redrafting of the lease agreements for a joint UK-US military facility on Diego Garcia.

Despite economic development, Mauritians still grapple with increasing costs of living. Both parties, in their campaigns, had vowed to tackle the financial difficulties of common Mauritians.