Officials in the island nation of Mauritius have confirmed the arrest and detention on Wednesday of a former central bank governor over allegations of embezzlement.
The country’s financial crimes commission said investigations of the alleged graft at a state company fingered Harvesh Seegolam, an ex head of the central bank and former finance minister Renganaden Padayachy.
“Renganaden Padayachy and Harvesh Seegolam have been arrested this afternoon March 9 following new evidence brought into the enquiry of alleged embezzlement of 300 million Mauritius rupees (S$8.9 million),” the commission said in a statement.
The theft probe was over funds at the Mauritius Investment Corporation, tasked with helping local companies tackle the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both former officials who were part of the previous administration have dismissed the allegations against them as untrue.
Seegolam was central bank governor from March 2020 to November 2024.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam who won last year’s election had promised to fight corruption in government and spearheaded an audit of public institutions.
His administration had accused its predecessor of giving false data about the Mauritian economy, budget deficit and public debt over a period lasting many years.
WN/as/APA