The Agency for the Recovery of Illicit Assets (ARAI) is still awaiting the opening of a specific Treasury account to transfer 545 million ariary resulting from final confiscations. Four years after its creation, the agency reports having received eight final confiscation decisions, now allowing these funds to be returned to the State.
These 545 million ariary come from eight final and enforceable confiscation decisions. However, their transfer to the State coffers remains suspended pending the establishment of a specific Treasury account in the name of ARAI, explained its Director General, Rado Rajohnson, on the sidelines of a training session organized for the Association of Women Journalists of Madagascar in Anosy on Thursday.
“So far, eight final confiscation decisions have been received by ARAI,” the official reported. He mentioned a total amount of 545 million ariary ready to be transferred to the State following these court rulings. He recalled that “in accordance with the provided provisions, a specific Treasury account in the name of ARAI must be opened to allow this operation.”
According to the Director General, technical constraints are still delaying the opening of this account. Discussions are underway with the Public Treasury and the Higher Council of Accounting to define the appropriate accounting mechanism. In the meantime, the funds remain deposited in an escrow account.
ARAI also emphasizes that the restitution of confiscated assets depends on the outcome of judicial proceedings. After a decision is rendered in the first instance, the parties concerned can appeal, and then file an appeal before the Court of Cassation. It is only after these appeals are exhausted that the decisions become final and can be executed.
When the confiscation is final, the assets are transferred to the Treasury. If the suspect is acquitted, their funds are returned to them. According to the ARAI DG, his office has so far been able to return up to 160 billion ariary in funds. Furthermore, 125 billion ariary are still awaiting a final court decision, as are 192 vehicles and 161 real estate properties.
Created in 2022, the Agency for the Recovery of Illicit Assets is responsible for executing court decisions related to the freezing, seizure, and confiscation of assets derived from illicit activities. It also ensures the preservation and management of assets placed under its responsibility until their restitution or final transfer. The agency also maintains a register recording seized assets, their location, their custodian, their date of seizure, and their estimated value.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-19 17:41:46 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/lutte-contre-la-corruption-545-millions-dariary-davoirs-definitivement-juges-illicites-prets-a-etre-reverses-au-tresor-public/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lutte-contre-la-corruption-545-millions-dariary-davoirs-definitivement-juges-illicites-prets-a-etre-reverses-au-tresor-public
