The ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering took a significant turn with the arrest of former Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. This development followed the detention of several prominent individuals which then led to a series of raids and seizures.
The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) launched its investigation on Saturday 15 February 2025.The investigation began with the arrests of Josian Deelawon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of My Holidays Ltd and MyGroup, a leading Mauritian conglomerate with interests in real estate and tourism, and Chandradeo Nitish Oomah, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the same entities. These arrests resulted from the seizure of multiple suitcases containing various foreign currencies, including US dollars, euros, British pounds, South African rand and dirhams, as well as luxury watches, hotel receipts and travel documents bearing the name of Kobita Jugnauth, the former Prime Minister’s wife. The seizures took place at Oomah’s residence in Pointe-aux-Canonniers.
On the same day, the FCC also issued a formal notice to the Commissioner of Police and the Director General of the Passport and Immigration Office, requesting immediate notification if Pravind Jugnauth, his wife Kobita Jugnauth, her brother Sanjiv Ramdanee and Bassoodeo Seetaram – a director of several companies and an associate of the former regime – attempted to leave the country. The investigation subsequently led to a search at Pravind Jugnauth’s residence at Angus Road, Vacoas and to the interrogation of both him and his wife at the FCC’s offices in Réduit. Kobita Jugnauth was allowed to return home shortly after 11 pm.
After more than six hours of interrogation at the Financial Crimes Commission, Pravind Jugnauth was taken to the Moka Detention Centre, where he spent the night. He was under arrest and faced a provisional charge of money laundering. According to his lawyer, Me Raouf Gulbul, he denied all allegations against him.
At around 2 am on Sunday 16 February 2025, the FCC spokesperson informed the press that investigators had searched no fewer than ten locations related to this alleged money laundering case and that Rs 114 million had been found in one of these locations.
The investigation into alleged money laundering, which began with the arrests of key figures and the seizure of significant amounts of currency and assets, remains ongoing and has led to a high-profile arrest.