Tycoon Mamy Ravatomanga faces trial Tuesday over five Boeing 777s allegedly routed to Iran via Madagascar to evade US sanctions.
Key takeaways
Malagasy authorities allege that five Boeing 777s registered in Madagascar facilitated transit to Iran for the country's power elite. The aircraft, now listed under Iranian carrier Mahan Air, were used in a scheme involving money laundering and influence peddling.
- Investigators believe the planes' Malagasy registration allowed them to transit international airspace before reaching Iran in July 2025.
- Ravatomanga faces money laundering charges, with co-defendant Singh Khushwinder alleging he received five million euros from the operation.
- The five jets, originally bought by Singapore Airlines, were parked in China before being registered to Mahan Air.
Summarised automatically by AI from the original article by Free Malaysia Today. AI can make mistakes, so check the original for details.
Mamy Ravatomanga (centre), currently being held in Mauritius, faces accusations of money laundering and influence peddling in the case. (AFP pic)JOHANNESBURG: Once among Madagascar's most influential businessmen and a close ally of deposed president Andry Rajoelina, Mamy Ravatomanga stands at the centre of one of the island's most explosive corruption cases.
The planes, now registered to Iranian carrier Mahan Air, never physically entered Madagascar.
Instead, Malagasy investigators believe their registration allowed them to transit international airspace before reaching Iran in July 2025.
Ravatomanga, currently being held in Mauritius, faces accusations of money laundering and influence peddling in the case. He denies wrongdoing.
