Andohatapenaka case: the HAT gets a new condemnation against Marc Ravalomanana

Antananarivo’s criminal court judged the case, and issued the verdict condemning former president Marc Ravalomanana to 5 years of penal servitude. The million of ariary high fine is certainly nothing but symbolic. This event’s purpose and timing are no secret no more, as  Marc Ravalomanana announced a possible return after an eluding erection a national union government. This condemnation is adding up to the HAT set of deterrents. Finding a way to charge the ousted president now in exile in South Africa as much as possible remains a priority for the HAT. The Andohatapenaka issue used to be one of the incentives for the putsch completed in 2009. Having the authorities making it a judicial done deal is technically natural. 

The condemnation of Fidy Ratsimbazafy is a mean to pressure Marc Ravalomanana’s political circle. The previous chief of the Analamanaga region is also entitled to 5 years of penal servitude, as well as to four times the amount of the president’s fine, 4 millions. Three charges have been retained against both figures, embezzlement among others. Complicity and partiality have been sharply reproached to the former region chief. Various other people have been devoured by the HAT judicial hydra. Four people got condemned to relatively reduced sentences: two years behind bars for a couple of them, and eight months with reprieve for the other two. Service suppliers, namely Herniaina Razafimahefa, the Alma corp.’s CEO, and Lydia Radafison, from Mandimbisoa & co, have nearly got away with it.   

The issue used to be a cause for significant controversies at the time in 2008, but works started on the piece of land located in Andohatapenaka, started and completed. In the end, the area was meant to be the location of an animal food factory. 77 homes have been erected to shelter the local dwellers. The Analamanga region’s general procurator made this basically unpledged construction the basis of the indictment, since the government actually provided the work on a piece of land that used to be his with a 3.6 billions ariary high subsidy. Since the land in question is being located inside the Urban Commune of Antananarivo, mayor Andry Rajoelina cried scandal, making use of ecological arguments as pre urban rice cultures and the purpose of a valley which could eventually keep the city’s low districts.  

Besides, land for Tiko’s animal food factory would have been sold by the Analamanga region. Every competent authority has, by that time, approved the private society’s led investment project. But times have changed, and the court has now agreed with the procurator’s led partiality indictment based on the lack of bids. Subsidies granted by the ministry in charge of Decentralization are now held as embezzlement of public money. The HAT is even allowed to expect some damages. As for partiality, it might be necessary to remind that the Tiko group had no contender eager to purchase the area. Maybe the project’s nature itself, the construction of a factory to produce home made animal food, was simply not popular enough