Harvesh Kumar Seegolam, the former governor of the Bank of Mauritius, was arrested on Friday in connection with a conspiracy to defraud investigation, as reported by local media outlets.
The arrest occurred shortly after Seegolam's arrival at Plaisance airport and follows an order issued last month by the Mauritius police's anti-money laundering unit, which had previously announced their intention to apprehend Seegolam. While details of the investigation have not been disclosed, the order indicates serious allegations against the former central bank official.
Police spokespersons have confirmed the arrest to a Western media outlet. The arrest have been covered by local media, including the daily newspaper l'Express and Le Défi Media Group.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam's government has set forth an agenda to address fiscal discrepancies dating back to previous administrations. Ramgoolam has accused the former government of falsifying essential economic figures, such as the country’s gross domestic product, budget deficit, and public debt statistics. In a report to parliament, the Prime Minister also claimed that the central bank had improperly printed money to fund the Mauritius Investment Corporation, a state entity established to support businesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.