Roches Noires case: Rakesh Gooljaury reveals details

Rakesh Gooljaury made important revelations/allegations on Wednesday at the Intermediate Court on the robbery which happened on 3 July 2011 at the bungalow of Navin Ramgoolam. He admitted to giving a false statement at the insistence of the former prime minister who was supposedly assaulted while he was in the company of Nandanee Soornack that night. Gooljaury stated that he was invited to attend a party at Navin Ramgoolam’s bungalow due to his proximity to the latter. After the party, the businessman decided to return to his home in Saint Pierre but he was forced to head back to Roches Noires after receiving a call from Nandanee Soornack. He confided that once he arrived there, he saw Ramgoolam bleeding. Soornack was in a state of shock. According to Gooljaury, the assistant police commissioner Dev Jokhoo and former deputy commissioner of police Ravin Sooroojebally arrived. The former prime minister then told them what happened. “Navin Ramgoolam explained that he was attacked by a robber while he was in his room. The two policemen were against the idea of giving a statement to police. But Navin Ramgoolam insisted. He looked for Dass Chetty (his former adviser), but in vain. Then, he told me to take it upon myself. He also explained what I had to say while giving me details about the description of his attacker,” Rakesh Gooljaury confided. He alleged that the DCP Dev Jokhoo arranged to give false testimony to the police on 3 July 2011. Rakesh Gooljaury claims he had no choice but to help his friend. “I felt guilty for four years. I lied. I said that a thief had attacked me and that I handed him Rs 20,000.” Rakesh Gooljaury also alleged that he saw traces of blood on the bed sheet in Ramgoolam’s room on that night. “Dass Chetty hid it on the following day,” he told the Court. Rakesh Gooljaury expressed his wish to further cooperate with the police. He added that he will testify against Navin Ramgoolam and those involved in this case. Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohana Naidoo, requested a custodial sentence against Rakesh Gooljaury. The sentence will be known on 18 April.