Mauritius’ former Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, was released on bail on Monday over an ongoing money laundering investigation following the seizure of large sums of cash in raids on the homes of his alleged associates.
Police detained the 63-year-old and his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, on Saturday, questioning them for several hours, police sources told AFP.
While Kobita Jugnauth was released the same day, Pravind Jugnauth was formally arrested in the early hours of Sunday.
Appearing in court in Port Louis, the former premier denied any wrongdoing. A judge granted him bail after setting a payment of 150,000 rupees ($16,000), according to a written ruling seen by AFP.
Court and police documents revealed that the investigation stemmed from searches at the residences of two businessmen linked to a local leisure company. Officers reportedly uncovered documents with the Jugnauths’ names, as well as luxury watches and suitcases filled with cash.
Jugnauth served as Mauritius’ prime minister from 2017 until 2024 and comes from a powerful political dynasty that has shaped the country’s leadership since independence from Britain in 1968.
During his tenure, he oversaw a landmark agreement with Britain allowing Mauritius to reclaim sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, a long-disputed territory.
However, his party, the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), suffered a resounding defeat in the November 2024 elections, paving the way for his rival, Navin Ramgoolam, to become prime minister for the third time.
Since taking office, Ramgoolam’s government has reopened negotiations on the Chagos deal, reportedly seeking increased financial compensation and a review of the lease terms for a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
Under the agreement, Britain retains the lease for the base, which is a key American military facility in the Asia-Pacific region.
Both Mauritius and Britain have indicated that the final terms of the agreement will require input from the US government.
During the election campaign, Jugnauth and his opponents pledged economic reforms to address the cost-of-living crisis affecting many Mauritians, despite the country’s strong economic growth.
