New Cases in Police Actions Against Mauritian Politicians

Arrested on Wednesday by the CCID, Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the MSM, was arrested on Thursday, September 22, 2011 following an investigation by the ICAC. The same day, he was released on bail. He is accused of having been at the center of a conflict of interest in the takeover of the former MedPoint clinic by the State, for the sum of Rs 144.7 million. The purchase took place on December 29, 2010, when the leader of the MSM was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. He is appealing the decision of magistrate Meenakshi Gayan-Jaulimsing to uphold the provisional charge against him in the MedPoint case. This appeal will be heard on February 11.

MSM President Showkutally Soodhun is being prosecuted for spreading false news. The trial will begin on June 26, 2013. In the formal indictment, it is mentioned that “his remarks were intended to disturb public order”.

Showkutally Soodhun's arrest is set against the backdrop of the state takeover of the MedPoint clinic. The case started from a press briefing, held on July 9, 2011, by the leader of the Opposition. Paul Bérenger said that Navin Ramgoolam would have met Dr. Krishan Malhotra, one of the directors of MedPoint, and that he would then have telephoned the Chief Government Valuer to request a second evaluation.

An investigation was conducted by the CCID into these revelations. The Commissioner of Police had sought the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to find out whether there are grounds for prosecution against Paul Bérenger, Showkutally Soodhun and Dr Zouberr Joomaye, on the charge of 'Conspiracy to implicate the Prime Minister in the MedPoint deal and to discredit him as Prime Minister in breach of section 109(1) of the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act'.

The DPP concluded that there is sufficient evidence to establish that the Prime Minister neither met Dr Krishan Malhotra in the wake of the MedPoint case nor telephoned the Chief Government Valuer, Yodhun Bissessur.

The DPP is also of the opinion that Paul Bérenger's statement to this effect is false and that the source of this information is Showkutally Soodhun. Dr. Zouberr Joomaye acted as intermediary. Paul Bérenger and Zouberr Joomaye were also in the police crosshairs, but the DPP ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence against them.

Last June, Pravind Jugnauth and Showkutally Soodhun were summoned to the Central CID, regarding the investigation into the fire which took place at Harish Boodhoo's house. A summons that the leader of the MSM then described as "persecution".

Maya Hanoomanjee has been the subject of a provisional charge of 'Public official using her office for gratification' since the end of 2010 in the wake of the MedPoint affair.

On December 3, it was Cehl Meeah, leader of the Mauritian Solidarity Front (FSM), who was charged by the Central CID, following a statement recorded by the Minister of Regional Administrations, Hervé Aimée, a few days before.

Two provisional charges of spreading false news and criminal defamation have been brought against him. He is accused of having “criminally, willfully and unlawfully made an allegation of a fact, character and reputation of one Hon. Hervé Aimée to wit transfer of Rs 25,000,000 associated with the Gro Dereck Affaire which fact alleged was a defamation”. Offense he would have committed on November 30 in Plaine-Verte. The second indictment accuses Cehl Meeah of having disseminated false news against the minister, including “The dissemination of which is of such a nature as to disturb public order or public peace”.