A court in Mauritius granted bail to former Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth amid an ongoing money-laundering investigation, following police raids that uncovered suitcases of cash at the homes of his alleged accomplices.
Authorities detained the 63-year-old politician and his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, on Saturday, questioning them for several hours before releasing her. Pravind Jugnauth was formally arrested early Sunday.
Appearing in court in the capital, Port Louis, he denied all accusations. The judge granted his release upon payment of 150,000 rupees ($16,000), according to a written ruling seen by AFP.
Police and court documents detailed searches at the residences of two other suspects linked to a local leisure company. Officers reportedly seized documents with the Jugnauths’ names, along with luxury watches and large sums of cash in suitcases.
Pravind Jugnauth, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2024, comes from one of Mauritius’ prominent political dynasties. His tenure included securing a historic deal with Britain to regain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, a long-contested territory.
However, in the November elections, Jugnauth and his Militant Socialist Movement suffered a heavy defeat, paving the way for center-left rival Navin Ramgoolam to take office as prime minister for a third time.
Ramgoolam’s administration has since reopened negotiations over the Chagos Islands, reportedly seeking improved financial compensation and revised terms for the U.K.-U.S. military base lease on Diego Garcia. While Britain retains control of the base, both Mauritius and the U.K. have indicated that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will play a role in finalizing the agreement.
Despite Mauritius’ strong economic growth, both political camps focused their election campaigns on addressing the rising cost of living, a pressing concern for many citizens.
