Rahman Ravelli assesses the first conviction of a foreign official in the UK for bribery

Romy Andrianarisoa, former Chief of Staff to Madagascar’s president, became the first foreign official jailed in the UK for bribery. Rahman Ravelli wrote a piece examining the key issues in the case.

In their article, which was published by FCPA Professor, Rahman Ravelli details how Andrianarisoa  and her French associate Philippe Tabuteau were jailed after a trial that heard taped evidence of them soliciting bribes from an undercover officer to help secure a mining deal. 

They explain that the case was a notable first for UK enforcement agencies and unique for being able to rely on ‘smoking gun’ evidence rather than historical conduct  to secure convictions. It was a swift prosecution that, unlike many cases, faced no obstacles regarding evidence or extradition. 

Rahman Ravelli outlines the difficulties the Serious Fraud Office can face when using covert methods to gain potential evidence. But they emphasise that the case is an indicator that UK law enforcement agencies are taking an increasingly active approach to investigations.  

The conduct of the company that reported its concerns to the National Crime Agency is, they say “a lesson for corporates in ensuring that they have in place comprehensive anti-bribery and corruption compliance procedures.’’

The full article can be read here.

Featured at: FCPA Professor