Madagascar dismisses two senior officials, holds 15 over release of 11 Chinese prisoners

Madagascar's Council of Ministers on 21 October dismissed the director of the Penitentiary Administration at the Ministry of Justice and the director in charge of immigration control at the Ministry of Public Security. Fifteen people are in police custody over the release of 11 Chinese prisoners held at Avaradrano prison, the Malagasy news site Newsmada reported on 22 October.

The 11 Chinese nationals, convicted by Malagasy courts, were moved from Avaradrano to Antanimora central prison in two groups in August and were released soon after arrival, the Justice Ministry said in a statement Newsmada published on 15 October. Five were admitted on 21 August and freed about 50 minutes later; six were admitted on 25 August and freed about 30 minutes later. The ministry said no judicial or administrative document justified the releases and not all the required procedures had been followed.

The Chinese embassy in Madagascar called the case "un incident isolé" (an isolated incident) in a statement Newsmada carried on 16 October and said it trusted the Malagasy authorities. L'Express de Madagascar quoted the embassy as describing the 11 as involved in an online fraud case and saying the case should have no effect on relations between China and Madagascar.

Prime Minister Mamitiana Rajaonarison promised sanctions at Tsimbazaza on 20 October, the day before the Council met. "Il n'y aura ni indulgence ni favoritisme" (there will be neither leniency nor favouritism), he said. "Toutes les personnes impliquées devront répondre de leurs actes" (everyone involved will have to answer for their actions).

Jérémie Napou, director of the Penitentiary Inspection, said on his page on 21 October that the investigation implicates a senior figure outside the Ministry of Justice, who is not named. The secretary general of the prison agents' union allegedly acknowledged acting on that person's order, and the escort agents were allegedly paid 200,000 ariary each, Napou said. Madagascar-Tribune said the corruption suspicions still have to be confirmed by a judicial investigation. Newsmada also reported that the inquiry found irregularities in the documents and procedures normally required to release detainees and, citing unnamed sources, that only three people knew of the transfer: the director of Avaradrano prison, the union's secretary general and the director of the Penitentiary Administration. None of these accusations has been established in court.

The union's secretary general denies the justice minister's account. He said the order was to release the detainees pending a list prepared by the embassy and the Ministry of Justice, for their expulsion to China. He cited an official mission to China from 7 to 13 September, and said he has a mission order and videos of meetings with Chinese police officers. "Je dénoncerai les faits de corruption un à un" (I will expose the corruption cases one by one), he said. He also said prison agents risk becoming scapegoats. Madagascar-Tribune reported on 22 October that he is being sought and had posted a new video from hiding in Dubai.

On 18 October, Justice Minister Fanirisoa Ernaivo rejected his claim that she had ordered the releases. She said no instructions go to the union: hers would go to the director general of the Penitentiary Administration. Four of the 11 had left Madagascar, she said, and seven were still in the country and being sought. The union leader had said in a Facebook video that the minister contacted him and the prison director to arrange the release.

President Michaël Randrianirina said on 20 October that he had personally taken charge of following the investigation, Madagascar-Tribune reported on 21 October.