Prime Minister Refuses to Disclose Details of Controversial deal 

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has defended the confidentiality of national security in response to questions over contracts awarded to DNS International and DNS Consultancy Services, owned by businessman Danesh Ellayah, by the Security Division of the PMO.

Jugnauth declined to comment on the contracts, valued at over Rs 700 million, citing the longstanding practice of successive government to withhold such information.

The contracts were highlighted during the lifting of the Restriction Order obtained by the Financial Intelligence Unit against the businessman, with the court pointing out that the FIU had overlooked these disbursements when it froze the companies’ accounts.

Responding to queries in Parliament on Tuesday, Jugnauth stated that all procurement and payments related to the contracts had been carried out legally.

Uteem questioned Jugnauth regarding a Judge’s Order for the use of equipment purchased from Verint Systems Ltd, an Israeli company specialising in voice message interception, and whether such equipment had been used to spy on political opponents.

The PM refused to provide a clear response, citing the government’s commitment to national security and convention not to disclose confidential information on security matters.

Source: Le Mauricien