(Ecofin Agency) - In Mauritius, Mr. Hassenjee Ruhomally and Ms. Fareenah Ruhomally are being sued by Housing and Land Minister Showkutally Soodhun. They are accused of sharing, on Facebook, a “fake” bill indicating that the Minister was supposedly treated at the Apollo Bramwell hospital and supposedly benefited from the cancellation of charges amounting to 396,176 Mauritian rupees ($11,000).

The minister denies the authenticity of the document shared of Facebook. Following the complaint, the Ruhomally couple was arrested and held by police during the night of the 3rd to the 4th February 2016. They were later released on bail. Each of them paid 2,500 Mauritian rupees and signed an acknowledgement of debt of 25,000. However a provisional charge was held against them for violating the Information and Communication Act.

“They are using Facebook to tarnish my image,” said Minister Showkutally Soodhun during a press briefing last February 2. He made the announcement at the Central Criminal Investigation Department.

Interviewed by the Mauritian newspapers L’Express, Hassenjee Rohumally said “there was no evil intention behind the post”. “I never accused Soodhun of not paying his bills,” he added. The young 52 year old says there is nothing wrong with asking questions. “I just wanted to know why the hospital cleaned the debt of Mr. Soodhun despite experiencing financial issues,” Hassenjee Rohumally said. He is surprised that none of the other people who shared the post on Facebook is prosecuted.