Human rights defender Thomas Razafindremaka detained and charged
Thomas Razafindremaka was provisionally released on 27 February 2020.
On 16 February 2020, human rights defender Thomas Razafindremaka was arrested by the Gendarmerie of Ihosy. He is charged with extortion, usurpation of office and fraud.
Thomas Razafindremaka is a human rights defender fighting against corruption in the Ihorombe region of Madagascar. He is the president of "Gny To tsy mba Zainy" (GTZ) and leader of the human rights commission of Rohy Madagasikara, organisations fighting against corruption, and promoting the rule of law and good governance. He is also a member of the Ihorombe Regional Civil Society Organisations Platform (Pfnoscm Madagascar).
On 16 February 2020, human rights defender Thomas Razafindremaka was arrested by the Gendarmerie of Ihosy. He is charged with extortion, usurpation of office and fraud.
Thomas Razafindremaka is a human rights defender fighting against corruption in the Ihorombe region of Madagascar. He is the president of "Gny To tsy mba Zainy" (GTZ) and leader of the human rights commission of Rohy Madagasikara, organisations fighting against corruption, and promoting the rule of law and good governance. He is also a member of the Ihorombe Regional Civil Society Organisations Platform (Pfnoscm Madagascar).
On 16 February 2020, Thomas Razafindremaka was arrested by the Gendarmerie of Ihosy. He is currently detained at the Ihosy prison, and is charged with extortion, usurpation of office and fraud. The human rights defender believes he has been targeted due to his work denouncing corruption and abuse of power by members of the judiciary and the National Gendarmerie in the Ihorombe region and the surrounding areas. The first hearing of his case is scheduled for 17 March 2020 at the Ihosy Tribunal.
In 2019, Thomas Razafindremaka filed a complaint to the authority mandated with fighting corruption within the National Gendarmerie. The complaint concerned corruption and torture allegedly perpetrated by the Superintendent of Gendarmerie of Tritriva, Soamatasy District. He also lodged a complaint against the President of the District Electoral Commission and the deputy candidate of Ihosy, concerning alleged corruption during the legislative elections of 27 May 2019.
In a letter sent on 6 January 2020 to the Ministry of Justice’s Directorate for the Promotion of Integrity, Thomas Razafindremaka raised concerns about the work ethic of several employees of the Ihosy court, including the investigating judge, the president of the court and the prosecutor. He also questioned the length of the judges' mandate.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned about the detention of, and charges against, Thomas Razafindremaka as it strongly believes that they are directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his activities denouncing corruption.
