(AFP) – Mauritius police on Sunday arrested the island's former prime minister, Pravind Jugnaus, with a money laundering probe and seized cash in the assault on the homes of fellow suspects, officials said.
Officials detained the 63-year-old along with his wife, Covita Jugnaus, on Saturday and questioned them for several hours, a police source who asked not to name them told AFP.
Kobita Jugnauth was later released and Pravind Jugnauth was officially arrested early on Sunday.
Raouf Gulbul, a lawyer for Pravind Jugnauth, told reporters:
He said the former player will appear before the judge later on Sunday.
The police case report seen by AFP detailed the police search at the home of another suspect who works for a local leisure company.
They said they seized documents depicting Jugnaus's name and seized gorgeous clocks and stacks of various currencies.
Police also searched the homes of local real estate executives and seized cash suitcases, local media reported.
The Island's Financial Crimes Commission cites an investigation into “Money Laundering Cases” and in a notice issued Saturday, he said that Jugnaus and two other suspects will be detained if they attempt to leave the country. I was asking the police.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth from 2017 to 2024 is a member of the dynasty that has ruled the leadership of Mauritius, a stable and relatively prosperous Indian Ocean island nation since becoming independent from Britain in 1968.
He oversaw historic deal with the UK for Mauritius, in order to regain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after a long conflict.
He and his radical socialist movement led to overwhelming defeat in the tense elections in November.
He has given his position as left rival Nabin Ramgoorum, who has become prime minister for the third time.
The Lamgoolam government resumed negotiations for Chagos and reportedly renegotiated the length of the proposed leases for UK-US joint bases.
Under the Chagos deal, the UK will hold a lease of its base on Diego Garcia Island.
Both Mauritius and the UK said President Donald Trump's administration has a say in the final terms of the agreement.
The base is currently leased from the UK to the US, making it one of the major military facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
During the election campaign, both camps promised to improve the lives of ordinary Maurishans, who are facing difficulties in living expenses despite strong economic growth.
