Honorary Consul of Madagascar says a legal solution will be found, if Romania takes concrete steps for Radu Mazare’s extradition

The Honorary Consul of Madagascar, Serge Rameau, says Radu Mazare’s extradition to Romania may be easily solved, if the Bucharest authorities want it, as the new president of his country is firm against corruption.

In an interview for ‘Free Europe’, the Consul mentioned that Radu Mazare (photo) was not hiding in Madagascar, he lived in his tourism complex for extreme sports. He mentioned that he hasn’t yet received the official confirmation regarding the arrest, hotnews.ro reports.

“If Radu Mazare is arrested in Madagascar, the situation will be managed by Police. I asked the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the press in my country, I received no confirmation yet,” Serge Rameau said.

He added that, right after the sentence for Mazare was released, he has sent a notification to Madagascar about the alert issued by Interpol on his name, but received no reply at the time.

“I have to tell you that in Madagascar presidential elections have taken place and the new President Andry Rajoelina (in office since January 2019) is firm to support the fight against corruption in the country,” Rameau said.

“Several important people have been arrested for corruption offenses, so if Mr. Mazare is arrested and if Romania makes concrete steps in view of extradition, I am convinced the legal solution will be easily found,” the Honorary Consul stressed.

He added that, if Mr. Mazare in taken into custody and if the Romanian authorities really want to negotiate the extradition, the Romanian ambassador in Madagascar could hasten the procedure.

Serge Rameau mentioned that Mazare was an expat, having a labour contract with his own firm, with clean criminal record and new passport when he arrived in Madagascar. After the sentence, he requested political asylum as expat, as the local media reported, but Madagascar does not grant political asylum. So, he renewed the residence request as expat with his own company, a common procedure.

Interim Justice Minister says extradition procedures will be initiated after the court confirms legal conditions are met

Interim Justice Minister Ana Birchall said on Wednesday that the Interpol has informed the Justice Ministry regarding the remand of Radu Mazare in Madagascar and the extradition procedure will be initiated after the court confirmed the legal conditions are met, digi24.ro informs.

Birchall told Antena 3 TV private broadcaster that Interpol informed the Justice Ministry at 17.30h about the remand.

Former mayor of Constanta Radu Mazare, has been remanded by the authorities in Madagascar on Wednesday.

Mazare is sentenced to 9 years in prison in the file regarding the retrocession of beaches. Radu Mazare is in Madagascar since the end of 2017.