On Thursday, the Antanarivo Court of Corruption issued a ten -year prison sentence against parliamentarian Romeo Christophe Ramnanana, after being convicted of charges related to the smuggling of radioactive turtles, which are protected and endangered species, in addition to the charge of money laundering, in one of the most prominent environmental corruption cases in Madagascar in recent years.
Ramnanana, a deputy of the Swafanriana district in the center of the country, was arrested in December 2024 in the town of Morondara on the western coast, while he was transporting 112 radioactive turtles hidden in bags, accompanied by four of his aides.
These turtles are known as “radioactive turtle”, and are considered symbols of biological diversity in Madagascar, and are of strict protection under local laws and international agreements.
After he was caught dressed in, the parliamentary immunity was raised in an unusual step, which paved the way for his trial.
He was charged with smuggling, collusion in smuggling protected species, and money laundering, which are charged by the court installed by evidence.
The sentence was not limited to the prison sentence, but also included a fine of 60 million Aryari (about 12 thousand euros), in addition to a civil compensation of the state of 2 billion Ari (about 400 thousand euros).
A ten -year prison sentence was issued against one of his aides, while the other three were sentenced to four years in prison for each of them.
Commenting on the ruling, the Prosecutor described the issue as an example of “environmental corruption associated with the use of political influence,” stressing that the arrest and conviction of a current deputy in a case of this kind represents a clear message that “no one is above the law.”
For its part, the environmental protection societies saw that this issue reveals the presence of wide smuggling networks targeting natural resources in Madagascar, in light of the poor censorship and the involvement of some officials.
These associations praised the ruling, and considered it a “positive judicial precedent” in addressing the deterioration of the biological diversity that threatens the island.
It should be noted that the radioactive turtle is ranked from endangered organisms from the International Federation for the Protection of Nature, and is prohibited by trafficking under the CITES agreement.
