Assault on Neurologist Rabindranath Modun - Suspect Joson: 'We Know Our Friend in Prison'

In prison, the two alleged suspects, Hans Kissoon and Mevin Joson, who are addicted to drugs, devised their plan. The name of Rabindranath Modun, a 77-year-old neurologist, circulated among inmates, prompting them to target him and plan to rob him at his home in Coromandel upon their release. Modun had previously been a victim of an assault in May 2022, which bore similarities to a prior case involving three residents of Chebel who had also targeted him.

Once released, the two suspects began to regularly meet and committed multiple serial thefts across the island, mainly in the eastern part of the country, since the beginning of the month. Among the reported offenses were safe thefts, burglaries in the Moka region, and scams related to car rentals.

On Monday, Hans Kissoon was arrested in Bon-Accueil after he had just attacked a jeweler. Police later apprehended his accomplice, Mevin Joson, who primarily acted as the driver during their operations. It was not by chance that Hans Kissoon targeted Dr. Rabindranath Modun's home, according to Ramesh, in Coromandel. In the past, his relatives had taken him to see the doctor for treatment for his addiction problem. On Saturday, April 18, he went there, accompanied by Mevin Joson, to execute their plan.

Hans Kissoon also explained to the CID detectives of the Eastern Division that he and his friend were addicted to hard drugs. They collaborated to obtain their daily dose, which they then shared. He confessed that they needed to find large sums of money to buy drugs: "Every day we need Rs 6,000 to buy 4 doses." The two men were formulating multiple plans—already discussed during their friendship in prison—to obtain easy money.

Violence Against the Elderly: 1,021 Complaints in 2025 The assault on neurologist Ramesh Modun highlights the vulnerability of the elderly. They are often assaulted or financially abused. These crimes are frequently linked to drug use. Elderly individuals do not always report the incidents. Since the beginning of 2026, the family protection unit has recorded seventeen offenses targeting elderly individuals. They have filed complaints and recounted their suffering. In 2025, the Ministry of Social Integration and Social Security recorded 1,021 complaints of elder abuse. Of these cases, 338 involved men. 190 elderly individuals reported physical violence. 528 complaints pertained to psychological abuse, and 146 involved financial abuse. The figures for 2026 have not yet been compiled by the authorities.

"HE DIVIDED MY HOUSE" In March, Marie-Claire, 73 years old, emotionally testified. She recounted a nightmarish evening at the hands of her 20-year-old grandson, who is believed to be a drug addict. "When he hasn’t taken his dose, he thinks everyone is trying to hurt him. He screams, he bangs on the door, he looks for money. I’m afraid of him," she confides. She shares that the insults have become increasingly frequent and that she has noticed the disappearance of several items from her home. "Rice, flour, fan, laptop, he has taken them all, he completely divided my house and then tried to hit me," she recounts. One evening, Marie-Claire describes how her grandson physically attacked her and attempted to snatch her bag. She then filed a complaint with the police.

Asrani Gopaul, Senior Lecturer in Social Work & Social Policy: 'Elderly Individuals Are Reluctant to Report' According to Asrani Gopaul, Senior Lecturer in Social Work & Social Policy at the University of Mauritius, the increasing number of violence cases cannot be ignored. This includes cases targeting the most vulnerable, particularly children and the elderly. He notes the reluctance of elderly individuals to report abuses, which contributes to them becoming prime targets. He believes that the drug problem is one of the main factors driving this violence. Asrani Gopaul even mentions that there are individuals who have turned violence and extortion into a real activity. He also points out that elderly individuals tend to trust more easily, due to their life experience and values inherited from a different era. The Senior Lecturer observes a decline in trust levels within society, affecting what he calls "Social Capital." He believes it is essential to strengthen education and awareness programs aimed at the elderly to help them better protect themselves against dangers.