Maurice Makamba
Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina’s ex-chief of staff was convicted in a London court on Tuesday of offering to help precious stone miner Gemfields, opens new tab win lucrative mining rights in exchange for substantial bribes.
Romy Andrianarisoa was accused of seeking substantial payments from Gemfields between 2021 and 2023.
She 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.
Andrianarisoa, who had worked for energy giant BP and Chinese state oil major CNOOC before becoming an adviser to Rajoelina, said in evidence that she wanted Gemfields to get a mining licence for the benefit of Madagascar.
