Former technology minister sentenced over conflict

Pulse Staff 06:05 - 03 July 2015

Mauritius' former Finance Minister Pravind Jugnauth presents the budget for 2011 at the National Assembly in Port Louis November 19, 2010. REUTERS/Ally Soobye

"I have not committed any offence of conflict of interest and I will appeal the judgment," Jugnauth told reporters, saying it would be a long fight but he was determined to clear his name.

A Mauritian court sentenced a former technology minister who is the premier's son to 12 months in prison on Thursday for conflict of interest under the state's anti-corruption act.

Pravind Jugnauth, 53, the son of Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, said he would appeal against his conviction. He resigned his minister's post on Wednesday, when he was found guilty.

He was accused of taking part, when finance minister, in a decision to reallocate Ministry of Health funds to acquire a private hospital, Medpoint, in which his sister had stakes.

The magistrates of the intermediate court said in a sentence seen by Reuters late on Thursday that it was not a case of corruption but of conflict of interest.