Mauritius 2024 Election Spending Probe Still Open Two Years On

More than two years after Mauritius held its November 2024 general election, a criminal investigation into alleged overspending by candidates remains ongoing, with no charges filed yet.

The CCID, the Central Criminal Investigation Department, the specialist investigative branch of the Mauritius Police Force, is looking into seven candidates suspected of exceeding the legal ceiling on electoral expenditure. Under Mauritian electoral law, each candidate is permitted to spend no more than Rs 150,000 during a general election campaign. Spending beyond that limit is a criminal offence.

Eight formal complaints were lodged with authorities in February 2025, several months after the election results were declared. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has publicly confirmed that witness statements are being taken as part of the inquiry, signalling that the investigation is active but has not yet reached a conclusion.

The CCID's mandate covers complex and serious crimes, including financial and electoral offences. Investigations of this kind typically involve the examination of financial records, campaign accounts, receipts and testimony from witnesses, which can make them lengthy processes.

Electoral spending rules in Mauritius are overseen by the Electoral Supervisory Commission, an independent constitutional body responsible for ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and within the law. Candidates are required to submit a detailed return of their campaign expenses after each election. If those returns show spending above the legal cap, or if evidence suggests that declared figures are understated, a complaint can be referred to police for investigation.

The Rs 150,000 spending limit has been a point of contention in Mauritian politics for years, with critics arguing that the cap is unrealistically low given the actual costs of running a modern campaign and that it creates conditions where under-reporting is widespread.

What this means: If the CCID concludes its investigation and finds sufficient evidence, the seven candidates in question could face criminal prosecution. A conviction for electoral overspending can result in disqualification from holding public office. For the sitting government, led by Navin Ramgoolam's Labour-led alliance which won the November 2024 election, the outcome of these investigations could have political significance depending on which parties or individuals are implicated. As of now, the probe continues and no names have been officially confirmed by police.

Source: Le Defi Media