The former Chief of Staff of the Malagasy President was found guilty of corruption following a secret investigation carried out quickly by the National Crime Agency (« National Crime Agency » – NCA).
REMINDERS
Romy Andrianarisoa, 47, from Madagascar, and his French associate Philippe Tabuteau, 54, were indicted in August 2023 after demanding substantial sums of money in exchange for their help in entering into a joint venture. ) exclusive mining with the government of Madagascar. Tabuteau pleaded guilty in September 2023.
The two defendants attempted to solicit a bribe from Gemfields, a UK-based company specializing in ruby and emerald mining, and proud of its projects to improve health, education and livelihoods of people living in communities surrounding their mines.
Romy Andrianarisoa had contacted the Gemfields company through an introducing agent, before arranging several in-person meetings to discuss potential contracts. At the 2023 meetings, she was Chief of Staff to the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, and made it clear that she had a direct line and significant influence with that country’s leaders. Tabuteau participated in the negotiations, describing himself as having no formal role within the government, but working for them “in a private and personal capacity.”
Shortly after her appointment as Chief of Staff, Romy Andrianarisoa introduced Philippe Tabuteau as her “colleague”, specifying that he would help her “to move things forward”. In March 2023, Tabuteau held a face-to-face meeting with a member of the Gemfields team during which he requested compensation for his services in exchange for “achieving milestones.” He highlighted the measures taken by himself and Andrianarisoa to ensure their actions remained secret, explaining that they would never speak on the phone or via email and would conduct conversations face-to-face or via WhatsApp only.
Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau each requested 10,000 Swiss francs as partial payment, in addition to two payments of 125,000 Swiss francs for the delivery of an “invitation to initiate collaboration” from President Rajoelina and the signing by the government of the key terms relating to the joint venture. They also tried to secure a 05% stake for their stake, which given the nature of the business could total around £4 million.
Suspicious of the intentions of both figures, Gemfields raised concerns about corruption at the NCA, which spawned an investigation using surveillance and other undercover tactics.
In meetings and conversations held over the next four months, Romy Andrianarisoa described the need for a substantial payment to ensure the continued success of the project, even if there was a change in president, and highlighted the amount that both of them should receive, as a gesture of goodwill for the project: “signing of the contract: – “Ten [milliers USD] for both of us […] ; ten per head for Philippe and me.”( “Ten [thousand USD] for both of us […] ten per capita for Philippe and myself”).
VERDICT
On August 10, 2023, the duo were arrested by NCA officers at a hotel in Victoria, London. Romy Andrianarisoa was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on February 20, 2024. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2024.
Translated from English by Jeannot Ramambazafy
Source : NCA
