Former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius has been granted bail after his arrest for money laundering, linked to 114 million Mauritius rupees seized during an investigation. He must not contact witnesses and is required to appear in court to finalize his bail. His legal representative asserts his innocence amid wider concerns over public financial management in the country.
In Mauritius, former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been granted bail following his arrest on money laundering charges. This announcement was made by a magistrate in Port Louis after Jugnauth was detained when detectives from the Financial Crimes Commission conducted a search at his residence and other locations, uncovering 114 million Mauritius rupees, approximately $2.5 million.
The magistrate, Rishan Chineah, stipulated that Jugnauth must not engage with any witnesses concerning the case, either directly or indirectly. Communication regarding the case is restricted exclusively to the court or investigation authorities. Jugnauth has been ordered to appear in court on Monday to finalize the bail procedure.
Jugnauth’s legal representative, Raouf Gulbul, has asserted that his client contests the allegations of money laundering. The prosecution has included these charges in the formal charge sheet presented in the court. Additionally, the new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam recently initiated a public financial audit in the wake of concerns regarding data from the prior administration.
In summary, former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has received bail amidst allegations of money laundering linked to a significant sum discovered during a Financial Crimes Commission investigation. He has been instructed to refrain from any witness contact concerning the case and is expected in court soon. These events occur as Mauritius grapples with issues regarding public finance and governance following recent political changes.
Original Source: gazette.com
