Mauritius’ Former Premier, Wife Arrested In Money-Laundering Probe
Police in Mauritius detained former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in a money-laundering investigation and seized large sums of cash from a business related to him, officials said on Sunday.
Officers detained the 63-year-old and his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, in the early hours of Sunday.
They questioned him for several hours, according to unnamed police sources. Kobita Jugnauth was eventually liberated.
According to the reports, Pravind Jugnauth was scheduled to appear before a judge later in the morning.
A police incident record obtained by AFP documented officers’ search of another suspect’s residence.
🚨🇲🇺EX-MAURITIUS PM ARRESTED IN MONEY-LAUNDERING PROBE—CASH, LUXURY GOODS SEIZED
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 16, 2025
Former Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth was arrested in a money-laundering investigation after police seized stacks of cash, luxury watches, and key documents.
Jugnauth and his wife were detained… pic.twitter.com/26KTSSTzBZ
As a result, documents carrying the names of the Jugnauths, as well as fancy watches and stacks of various currencies were found.
In a notification issued on Saturday, the island’s Financial Crimes Commission requested that police hold the Jugnauths and two other suspects if they attempted to leave the country, citing investigations into “a case of money laundering.”
Pravind Jugnauth, Mauritius’ prime minister from 2017 until 2024, is a member of one of the dynasties that have dominated the country’s leadership since its independence from Britain in 1968.
Breaking: EX Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth, who Starmer and Lammy rushed to do their dodgy Chagos deal with days after getting into office, is bundled into court on money laundering and corruption charges.
— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) February 16, 2025
Bye bye Keir, Hermer, Lammy. Share https://t.co/52FVdm1J4T pic.twitter.com/VIQmjXITSH
He oversaw a landmark agreement with Britain that allowed Mauritius to restore sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after a long-standing dispute.
In tense November elections, he and his Militant Socialist Movement were soundly defeated.
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He relinquished power to centre-left competitor Navin Ramgoolam, who became Prime Minister for the third time.
Throughout the campaign, both groups vowed to improve the lives of regular Mauritians, who are facing rising living costs despite good economic growth.
Under the Chagos agreement, Britain will retain a lease for a joint US military post on the island of Diego Garcia.
Both Mauritius and Britain have stated that US President Donald Trump’s administration will have a vote on the ultimate parameters of the pact.
Mauritius’ Former Premier, Wife Arrested In Money-Laundering Probe
