Two Frenchmen were arrested on Tuesday evening, July 20. According to the Advocate General of the Court of Appeal, who spoke on Wednesday, July 21, the two men were accused of endangering state security. They were still in custody on Wednesday night with their wives.
as reported from Antananarivo, Laure Verneau
According to the prosecutor, the investigators would have the material evidence that Paul Rafanoharana, a French-Malagasy, and Philippe François, a Frenchman, planned to assassinate “high political personalities”, of whom President of the Republic Andry Rajoelina.
The prosecutor does not provide further information about the arrest, nor about this evidence, or about the ongoing legal proceedings.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the two men were still in police custody on Wednesday and until 6 pm, the lawyers could not see their clients.
Philippe François and Paul Rafanoharana are both Saint-Cyriens. The first was at the head of an investment fund, the second is the adviser to Monsignor Odon, the Archbishop of Antananarivo. The name of Paul Rafanoharana had recently circulated as a potential future prime minister in the event of a change.
According to a source who prefers to remain anonymous, Paul Rafanoharana was arrested by a dozen armed men in his home on Tuesday night. Philippe François was in the departure lounge at Ivato Airport when he got ready to go to France.
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