Mauritius: PM Ramgoolam wins major court ruling

The Intermediate Court of Mauritius has dismissed a long-running criminal case against Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, bringing a significant development in one of the country’s most closely watched legal and political disputes on 8 June.

According to africanews via AFP, the ruling ended proceedings in the so-called “safe deposit box affair”, a case that stemmed from the discovery of millions of euros in cash at Ramgoolam’s residences in 2015.

Judges concluded that key issues raised by the defence had not been adequately investigated, ruling that continuing the prosecution would amount to an abuse of process. The court also pointed to shortcomings in the handling of the investigation, including concerns surrounding allegations that the case may have been politically motivated.

The 2015 case dates shortly after Navin Ramgoolam’s electoral defeat in 2014 when investigators discovered cash in multiple currencies worth an estimated €3.62 million in safes located at his properties. Ramgoolam was subsequently charged with 23 counts relating to financial transactions allegedly conducted between 2009 and 2015 in breach of anti-money laundering legislation. The transactions under scrutiny amounted to approximately €1.15 million. He consistently denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The ruling marks a major legal and political victory for the veteran politician, who returned to office as prime minister in November 2024 while the proceedings remained ongoing.

Throughout the case, his supporters maintained that the prosecution was politically driven, a claim that formed a central pillar of the defence’s arguments before the court. It comes amid wider debates over governance and legal accountability in Mauritius, where constitutional questions have also featured prominently in public debates surrounding the Chagos Islands transfer negotiations.

However, the legal dispute appears far from resolved. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has announced plans to challenge the judgment, arguing that the ruling contains significant errors of law.

In a statement following the decision, prosecutors confirmed that an appeal would be filed, describing the judgment as “manifestly flawed in law”.

The anticipated appeal is expected to prolong a case that has become emblematic of wider debates surrounding political accountability, judicial independence and the administration of justice in Mauritius.

While the ruling represents a significant victory for Ramgoolam, the anticipated appeal means a case that has fuelled debate over political accountability and judicial independence in Mauritius is likely to remain in the national spotlight.

africanews via AFP, maghrebi.org