For “illegal” gathering: Lawyer Rama Valayden arrested and released

Lawyer Rama Valayden was arrested at his office in Port Louis on late Thursday afternoon following a complaint filed by Sanjay Issary, CEO of National Property Fund Ltd (NPFL) on the same day at the Central CID. The latter alleged that clients of the Super Cash Back Gold Plan threatened employees of NPFL during a rally held on Wednesday, July 13 in Port Louis. He alleged that the rally in which the lawyer took part was illegal. “There was an illegal gathering on Wednesday, where false and malicious allegations and threats were made against the NPFL, Minister Roshi Bhadain and government... This is absurd! We have been doing a lot of hard work since the BAI case in 2015. It’s been 17 months since we are working with the Ministry of Finance to find a solution to repay the victims,” said Sanjay Issary. Live on Radio Plus minutes before his arrest, Rama Valayden said that: “They [the police] have informed me that they got the order to arrest. I will comply.... I am going to the Police Headquarters in 5 or 10 minutes with my lawyers...” Rama Valayden went there accompanied by his lawyers Yatin Varma, Nadeem Hyderkhan and Erikson Mooneapillay. According to information received, social worker Salim Muthy, organiser of the rally, might also face arrest. He will go to Central CID this Friday to give his statement. Rama Valayden was released on Thursday evening.