Former Madagascar Airlines Chair Arrested on Corruption Charges
A former chairwoman of Madagascar Airlines (MD, Antananarivo), Hajanirina Rinah Rakotomanga, has been arrested along with five co-defendants on corruption-related charges, according to the country’s attorney-general.
The charges include favoritism, conflict of interest, forgery and the use of forged documents, embezzlement of public funds, complicity in embezzlement and abuse of office.
Following their initial appearance before the investigating judge at the Court of First Instance of the Anti-Corruption Office of Antananarivo, five defendants were placed in pretrial detention at Antanimora Prison, while one was granted provisional release under judicial supervision.
The arrests follow a December 12, 2024, report from Madagascar’s anti-corruption authority, BIANCO, which referred the case to the prosecutor’s office on November 14. Attorney-General Bendrainy Velo said the accused are implicated in the “Madagascar Airlines case,” which also involves local construction firm Pro Beton SARLU.
The investigation centers on a public procurement contract worth MGA 498.8 million ariary (USD 111,000) for the reconstruction of the airline’s building in Toamasina, awarded in July 2023. BIANCO identified “numerous irregularities” in the tender process that resulted in Pro Beton SARLU receiving the contract. The investigation remains ongoing.
Rakotomanga previously served as chairwoman of Air Madagascar and later Madagascar Airlines from April 2022 until her resignation in November 2023, citing deteriorating internal relations and operational challenges. Madagascar Airlines officially replaced Air Madagascar on October 29, 2023.
According to Madagascar Tribune, Rakotomanga — a former journalist and close associate of former president Andry Rajoelina — was recently dismissed from her adviser role at Madagascar’s embassy in China. She returned to Madagascar and joined a pro-Rajoelina protest, leading to a travel ban for her and about 20 others. She was arrested on November 9 in Toamasina after failing to respond to a court summons from BIANCO.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com