Romy Andrianarisoa, the former chief of staff of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison by a London court in a major corruption case that has reached international shores. Her role in bribing Gemfields, a significant precious stone mining business, in order to enable the purchase of profitable mining rights in Madagascar, is what led to her conviction.demanded nearly 270,000 Swiss francs (approximately $300,000) in bribes. They also sought a 5% stake in one of Gemfields’ mines in Madagascar, a stake that could be valued at around $4 million, based on similar mining operations in Mozambique and Zambia.
The case, which came to an end on Friday, brought to light the pervasive corruption issues that can arise in government contracts and cross-border corporate transactions. The 47-year-old Andrianarisoa was discovered to have engaged in corrupt activities between 2021 and 2023 in an effort to further her own interests. She did this by taking advantage of her close relationship and powerful position with President Rajoelina.
During the sentence process, Judge Christopher Butcher, who was overseeing the case, chastised Andrianarisoa sharply for abusing a prominent position of trust. The dispute started in 2021 when Andrianarisoa made a proposal to Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, to help the business grow into Madagascar. Gemfields, which is well-known for owning the luxury jewelry line Faberge, became suspicious of her motivations and subsequently reported the matter to the British National Crime Agency (NCA).
Based on a tip from Gemfields, the NCA sent out an undercover agent to pose as a consultant for the mining firm. To protect his identity, the officer—who was only identified as “Charles” in court documents—engaged in discussions that exposed the extent of the wrongdoing. During their conversations, Andrianarisoa and Philippe Tabuteau, her accomplice, demanded nearly 270,000 Swiss francs (approximately $300,000) in bribes. They also sought a 5% stake in one of Gemfields’ mines in Madagascar, a stake that could be valued at around $4 million, based on similar mining operations in Mozambique and Zambia.
The evidence put up by the prosecution showed that Tabuteau and Andrianarisoa were open to accepting payments in rubies, a move that would have made it easier to hide the bribery. When the pair was caught at a hotel in London last year, they were detained right away and charged with bribery. President Rajoelina swiftly removed Andrianarisoa from office after learning of these accusations.
In February, Tabuteau entered a guilty plea to the bribery allegations during her trial at Southwark Crown Court, while Andrianarisoa pleaded not guilty to uphold her innocence. In court, she defended her activities, claiming that her goals were not personal enrichment but rather the growth of Madagascar’s mining industry. She told the court, “I never solicited any cash for myself,” highlighting her goal to obtain a mining license for the country’s benefit.
