Judicial inquiry into 12 dialysis patient deaths at New Souillac Hospital continues amid missing documents
via Le Mauricien1 min read
A judicial inquiry at the Curepipe District Court is investigating the deaths of twelve dialysis patients at New Souillac Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several important documents from the institutions involved in the patients' medical treatment are reportedly untraceable. Jean-Michel Ah-Sen, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP, informed the court that certain requested documents could not be found at the Renal Dialysis Unit of New Souillac Hospital or at the Tamassa Hotel. The deceased patients had received dialysis at the hospital while quarantined at the hotel. Missing documents include Occurrence Books from both institutions detailing patient care, as well as the medical records of three patients at New Souillac Hospital. Ah-Sen referred to the report of the Medical Negligence Standing Committee, published on December 12, 2024, which mentioned the missing documents. He suggested that copies might still exist from the committee's work. Following a request from the prosecution, Magistrate Shavina Jugnauth ordered Dr. Valaydon, a Ministry of Health official, to locate and produce these documents by Tuesday, May 12, when the inquiry is set to resume.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
Must ReadThe Financial Crimes Commission FCC is investigating alleged mismanagement at Air Mauritius between 2020 and 2024, following a forensic report by Kroll Middle East Consultancy Ltd. The report, which was approved by the national airline's board, has been transmitted to the FCC, prompting the formation of multidisciplinary teams to analyze its findings. Sattar Hajee Abdoola, administrator of Air Mauritius during the period, and Ken Arian, former Chief Executive Officer of Airports Holdings Limited, are expected to be questioned regarding strategic decisions made. Formal summonses for Abdoola and Arian are anticipated at a later stage of the inquiry. The investigation will also involve current and former Air Mauritius officials, including Raja Buton, who served as Officer-in-Charge. The FCC is focusing on transactions related to aircraft sales, purchases, and leasing contracts during the airline's voluntary administration and its post-pandemic recovery. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam previously stated in the National Assembly that Air Mauritius incurred a net loss of approximately Rs 1.2 billion from the sale of four aircraft between 2018 and 2021. Ramgoolam also mentioned that "falsified and misleading Reports were submitted to the then Board in the full knowledge of two persons, namely, the former Chairperson of Airport Holdings Ltd, Mr Ken Arian, and the former Chief Executive Officer of Air Mauritius Ltd, Mr Kučko, with the objective of justifying the purchase of an addition
The Indentured Labor Route Project ILRP aims to research and promote the history of indentured labor globally. The concept was first discussed in Mauritius in 2001 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, leading to the proposal "Coolie Route-Crossing the Seven Seas." A central objective has been to establish an International Scientific Committee of professionals in various fields to undertake research and projects. The Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund AGTF, created in 2001, received authorization in 2004 to set up the ILRP. In 2006, Aapravasi Ghat became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the history of indenture gained official international recognition. The World Heritage Committee also recommended the inscription of the Indentured Immigration Archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, which occurred in 2015. International conferences in 2011 and 2014 further advanced the project, leading to resolutions for an International Committee and an Indentured Labor Global Database Initiative. In June 2014, the World Heritage Committee acknowledged Mauritius's efforts, and in October 2014, UNESCO's Executive Board supported the ILRP, to be housed at AGTF, following the model of the Slave Route Project. The ILRP involves creating national and regional committees in countries that experienced indenture. In January 2015, the Chairman of AGTF prioritized the ILRP's realization, with support from the Minister of Arts and Culture and the Prime Minister. This project seeks to enhance AGTF's pos
Mauritius experienced an 8.4% decrease in tourist arrivals in June 2026, with 89,098 visitors compared to 97,273 in June 2025, according to Statistics Mauritius. This marks the first decline after a year of continuous growth. Despite this monthly drop, the first half of 2026 saw a 1.5% increase in tourism, with 668,471 arrivals compared to 658,909 in the same period of 2025. The Minister of Tourism, Richard Duval, attributed the June downturn to global factors, noting that other destinations like the Seychelles and the Maldives also saw significant decreases of 24.8% and 12% respectively. He suggested that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which impacts travel planning, and the start of the World Cup in June might have contributed to the decline. Minister Duval had previously indicated in February that the consistent monthly increases observed between April 2025 and April 2026 were unsustainable. He expressed confidence that the sector would overcome this challenging period, stating that authorities, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, and industry professionals are intensifying efforts to ensure 2026 surpasses 2025 in tourism performance.