Madagascar president's former aide jailed for offering mining licence for bribes

Gemfields

10/05/2024 16:57

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Malagasy President Andry
Rajoelina's former chief of staff was jailed for three and a
half years by a London court on Friday for offering to help
precious stone miner Gemfields  GEMGE.L  win lucrative mining
rights in exchange for substantial bribes.
    Romy Andrianarisoa, 47, was accused of using her position
and proximity to Rajoelina to seek substantial payments from
Gemfields between 2021 and 2023.
    "You abused your position of significant trust or
responsibility as chief of staff," Judge Christopher Butcher
said while passing sentence.
    Andrianarisoa came into contact with Gemfields CEO Sean
Gilbertson in 2021 and offered to help the company expand its
business into Madagascar.
    Gemfields, which owns the Faberge jewellery brand, became
suspicious and approached Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA),
which deployed an undercover officer posing as a consultant
negotiating on Gemfields' behalf.
    During conversations with the purported consultant, known as
"Charles" to protect his identity, Andrianarisoa and her
associate, Philippe Tabuteau, sought around 270,000 Swiss francs
(nearly $300,000) between them.
    The pair also wanted a 5% stake in a Gemfields company mine
in Madagascar which, based on valuations of similar operations
in Mozambique and Zambia, would be worth around $4 million.
    Prosecutors said Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau were both
offered payments by "Charles" in rubies, to make it easier to
hide the corrupt payments.
    They were arrested in a London hotel last year and each
charged with one count of bribery, after which Rajoelina sacked
Andrianarisoa with immediate effect.
    Tabuteau pleaded guilty and Andrianarisoa pleaded not
guilty, standing trial at Southwark Crown Court in February.
    Andrianarisoa said in evidence that she wanted Gemfields to
get a mining licence for the benefit of Madagascar, telling
jurors: "I never requested any payment for myself."
    But she was convicted and appeared in the dock on Friday
alongside Tabuteau for sentencing.
    Tabuteau was sentenced to two years and three months.

 (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Alex Richardson)
 ((Sam.Tobin@thomsonreuters.com;))