Two candidates of the Mauritian Socialist Movement (MSM), Ashock Jugnauth and Maya Hanoomanjee, will have to face trial concerning allegations of electoral bribery made by two unreturned candidates of the Social Alliance, Hervé Aimée and Meckduth Chumroo. The MSM MPs had asked for the petitions to be cancelled but Chief Justice Ariranga Pillay and Justice Paul Lam Shang Leen have decided that they wish to see the documents and listen to the arguments of the petitioners whose allegations seem “explicit enough”. The date of the trial has been fixed for 8th November.

The petitioners assert that the then minister of Public infrastructure, Alan Ganoo, had promised lands to squatters if they voted for him and his fellow candidates at a political gathering in Le Morne on 2nd June. These promises were made in the presence of the latter, Danielle Perrier and Maya Hanoomanjee. After the ministry’s permanent secretary sent these squatters a letter, the petitioners are adamant that lands were indeed allocated.

Despite Maya Hanoomanjee’s counter petition that there is no reasonable cause for action against her, the judges believe that the allegations are serious enough to justify trial.

In the case of Ashok Jugnauth, Raj Ringadoo asserts that the former minister of Health used illegal practices to obtain votes like the promise to extend the Muslim cemetery in St-Pierre. The employment of health care assistants just before the general elections is also mentioned in the petition. 101 health care assistants among the 388 recruited came from his constituency.

Even though the MSM MP argued that the petition contained vague allegations, the judges have concluded that “the allegations speak for themselves. They can’t be considered as uncertain or not clear enough.”