Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has been granted bail after being charged with money laundering. He was arrested following a search revealing significant financial discrepancies. He is prohibited from contacting witnesses and must finalize bail proceedings in court soon. His lawyer asserts his client’s innocence amidst wider governmental financial audits.
A court in Port Louis, Mauritius, has granted bail to former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth following his recent arrest on allegations of money laundering. Jugnauth was taken into custody after a search conducted by detectives from the Financial Crimes Commission led to the seizure of 114 million Mauritius rupees (approximately $2.5 million) from his residence and other locations.
During the bail hearing, Magistrate Rishan Chineah prohibited Jugnauth from engaging with any witnesses involved in the case, whether directly or indirectly. Additionally, Jugnauth is restricted from discussing the case with anyone except for legal representatives and the court, and he is required to appear in court to finalize the bail proceedings.
In response to the accusations, Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, affirmed that his client denies the charges brought against him. The Magistrate confirmed that Jognauth is provisionally charged with money laundering in a formal declaration made in court. Earlier in November, the new Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, announced an audit of public finances, raising concerns about data integrity from the prior administration.
The legal issues in Mauritius have also seen the former central bank governor detained and subsequently released on bail after facing conspiracy charges. Positioned in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius operates as an offshore financial hub, promoting itself as a strategic connection between Africa and Asia.
The former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius has been released on bail after being charged with money laundering, with restrictions on his interactions regarding the case. His lawyer maintains his client’s innocence amid ongoing scrutiny of government financial practices. The situation reflects broader concerns about the integrity of financial management in Mauritius, particularly following recent political transitions.
Original Source: gazette.com
