A school district chief and two other individuals have been incarcerated following a police search at a Masonic lodge in Ivandry.
Shocking revelations emerged as two men and one woman, suspected of involvement in the case, appeared before the public prosecutor on Saturday, August 1st. Following their hearing, all three suspects were placed in pre-trial detention: the men at Tsiafahy prison and the woman at Antanimora prison.
In a brief statement released the same day, Narindra Navalona Rakotoniaina, the Public Prosecutor at the Antananarivo Court of First Instance, clarified that the arrested individuals are members of a secret society or Masonic lodge, specifically the ‘Étoile Australe’ (Southern Star) lodge. She noted that one of the suspects serves as the head of the School District (Cisco) for Antananarivo City. The discovery followed a police raid on the group’s meeting place in Ivandry.
The prosecutor detailed the items seized at the scene: a coffin, a sword, and numerous letters and books containing information on rituals allegedly used for sacrifices. An altar was also discovered on the premises. The three suspects are charged with witchcraft, kidnapping, desecration of graves, and death threats.
According to the prosecutor, the investigation is ongoing to determine if these practices are linked to recent disappearances. Previously, on July 12, the wife of the Cisco chief was apprehended by residents in Namontana on suspicion of attempted child abduction, though authorities later concluded she was suffering from depression.
The director of the public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation is continuing. He stated that the suspects will remain in pre-trial detention while authorities work to identify other potential members or individuals involved, and to determine if the organization is linked to broader crimes in the country. Meanwhile, the organization ‘Framasao’ has issued a statement contesting the characterization of its members as troublemakers.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-03 05:54:13 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/perquisition-ivandry-le-juge-place-en.html