Minister’s brother accused of ‘attempt to influence’ drug trafficker’s case

Rishi Hurdoyal, brother of Public Service Minister Vikram Hurdoyal, is being accused by the legal adviser of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of having tried to intervene in favour of alleged drug trafficker Khalil Ramoly.

L’Express reported that ICAC’s lawyer Lovendra Nulliah sent a letter to the Bar Council on April 13 alleging that Hurdoyal “clear attempted to influence me to use my position as Prosecuting Counsel such that the outcome of the case is favourable to the accused”.

Rishi Hurdoyal holds several directorships in public institutions including the SBM. He was also Chairperson of the Mauritius Shipping Corporation.

“He is one of our people. See what you can do. You won’t lose, we’ll take care of you. I didn’t you were handling the case, else I would have spoken to you earlier,” the minister’s brother allegedly told the anti-graft agency’s lawyer. The latter has also reported the matter to the police.

The Bar Council has reportedly been quick to react.

“As soon as we received the complaint, we initiated the procedures to seek Mr Hurdoyal’s explanations. The Council will decide on the way forward after examining Rishi Hurdoyal’s explanations,” said its President Priscilla Boyrul Balgobin-Bhoyrul.

Source: l’Express, Defi Media