In Madagascar, the fight against corruption, tax evasion, smuggling, theft and embezzlement seems endless. Between 2020 and 2021, the audit of the Financial Investigations Brigade revealed 25 frauds which participated in the embezzlement of 4.3 billion ariary from the state coffers.
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The Malagasy Public Treasury, like its French counterpart, is responsible for collecting the tax, but also for controlling its proper use. Every year, the main tax collectors carry out audits of the accounts of the local authorities established in their region. In 2020 and 2021, this work brought to light embezzlement, Midi-Madagascar tells us. The addition is salty: 4.3 billion ariary (i.e. €1,120,780). Seen from France, this sum may seem derisory, but it must be analyzed in the light of the monthly salary of unskilled workers (€62).
Twenty-four suspects have been identified and prosecuted. Depending on the sums embezzled, they were sentenced to the seizure of their property or their salary. Five people were tried and sentenced to suspended prison sentences, fines and reimbursement of all the sums embezzled.
Over the past five years, the multiplication of checks has made it possible to unmask several senior officials. The audits revealed that accountants, mayors, executives and senior state officials had developed bad habits of using money earmarked for public services for their personal needs. The vast majority of dishonest officials worked in services in the capital.
During the presentation of the results of these investigations, the Minister of Economy and Finance made a point of recalling a legal rule: “If public accountants commit fraudulent acts in the management of public finances, even their descendants from seven generations must reimburse until the clearance of the debits observed, after the withdrawal from their salaries and the seizure of their property.