---
title: "Former Mauritius Prime Minister arrested, says Financial Crimes Commission"
description: "Former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested and is facing money laundering charges, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission said early on Sunday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-17-former-mauritius-prime-minister-arrested-says-financial-crimes-commission/"
published: "2025-02-17T04:30:29"
updated: "2025-02-17T00:12:37"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 171
---

# Former Mauritius Prime Minister arrested, says Financial Crimes Commission

> Former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested and is facing money laundering charges, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission said early on Sunday.

By Reuters · Published 17 February 2025, 06:30 SAST · Updated 17 February 2025, 02:12 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist worthy of a political thriller, former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested for money laundering, proving that in the world of offshore finance, even the highest offices can’t escape the long arm of the law—or a hefty dose of irony.
- Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has been arrested on money laundering charges, according to the Financial Crimes Commission.
- Jugnauth is detained at the Moka detention centre after FCC searches uncovered 114 million Mauritius Rupees ($2.4 million) at his residence.
- His lawyer claims Jugnauth denies the allegations, which come amid a broader scrutiny of public finances by the new Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam.
- The arrest follows the recent detention of the former central bank governor on conspiracy charges, highlighting ongoing financial investigations in the country.

## Content

Jugnauth "is under arrest", FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye told reporters, adding that he will be detained in Moka detention centre in Moka district in central Mauritius.

The arrest followed searches by FCC detectives of different locations, including Jugnauth's residence, during which they found and seized 114 million Mauritius Rupees ($2.4 million), the FCC said

Jugnauth's lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, told reporters early on Sunday that his client has been provisionally charged in an alleged case of money laundering. Gulbul said his client denied the charges.

In November, Mauritius' new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced an audit of the public finances days after questioning the accuracy of some government data compiled by the previous administration.

The country's former central bank governor was detained last month and released on bail after he was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.

An Indian Ocean archipelago, Mauritius is an offshore financial centre that markets itself as a link between Africa and Asia.**DM**

Reporting by Villen Anganan; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Jamie Freed, Kirsten Donovan