Madagascar president’s staffer arrested in London and charged over ‘seeking bribe’
T
he Madagascan president’s chief of workers has been arrested and charged in London with a bribery offence.
Romy Andrianarisoa, 46, and affiliate Philippe Tabuteau, 54, are suspected of searching for a bribe to safe licences to function in Madagascar from UK gemstone mining firm Gemfields.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) stated Andrianarisoa and French nationwide Tabuteau had been arrested in Victoria on Thursday afternoon, at a gathering the place they’re suspected of getting tried to solicit a bribe.
They are alleged to have requested Gemfields to pay £225,000 for a licence to function within the nation alongside a 5% fairness stake.
The allegations had been reported to the NCA by Gemfields. The pair appeared in court docket on Saturday the place they had been remanded in custody, the NCA stated.
The pair will subsequent seem at Southwark Crown Court on September 8.
Joanne Jakymec, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, stated: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the NCA to cost Romy Andrianarisoa and Philippe Tabuteau with requesting a bribe.
“The CPS made the choice to authorise expenses after reviewing a file of proof from the NCA regarding allegations of bribery.”