Madagascar court clears PAC to hear former leaders’ cases
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L'Express de Madagascar
Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court has recognised the Anti-Corruption Division’s jurisdiction to hear cases involving former leaders, including abuse of power and corruption. The decision concerns several cases, including suspected wrongdoing involving the state sovereign fund and the embezzlement of 36kg of gold, L’Express de Madagascar reports.
Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court (HCC) has recognised the Anti-Corruption Division (PAC) as having jurisdiction to hear cases involving former leaders, notably for acts of abuse of power linked to corruption, according to L’Express de Madagascar. The decision, issued on 28 October, follows a referral by the Directorate of Legislation and Litigation of the Prime Minister’s Office concerning three cases.
The cases notably concern former president Andry Rajoelina over the use of a sovereign fund managed by the state, as well as former Economy and Finance Minister Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison. Former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and former ministers Fidiniavo Ravokatra and Herilaza Imbiky are concerned by suspected embezzlement of 36kg of gold in 2019 and 2020. Another procedure concerns the award of a public contract to buy chairs for schools and implicates former National Education Minister Marie Michelle Sahondrarimalala.
The HCC nevertheless recalled that the High Court of Justice (HCJ) remains competent to hear cases concerning the political responsibility and criminal offences attributed to former leaders. The decision comes after Madagascar’s justice system awaited the constitutional decision on the Rajoelina cases, on 22 October, following the suspension of complaints against Rajoelina and Ntsay, announced the same day.
