FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 13 2024

Gemfields aids authorities in securing prison sentences for bribery totalling 5 years 9 months

LUFWANYAMA, ZAMBIA – The former chief of staff to Andry Rajoelina, the President of Madagascar, was jailed for three and a half years by a London court on Friday 10 May 2024 for soliciting a bribe from Gemfields, the 75% owner of Kagem Mining Ltd.
 
The former chief of staff, Romy Andrianarisoa (47) and her French accomplice, Philippe Tabuteau (54) sought nearly USD 300,000 by wire transfer plus 5% of any Gemfields mining operation in Madagascar in return for assisting Gemfields in establishing a gemstone joint venture in the country. Tabuteau, who had pled guilty prior to the court case, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Gemfields reported the bribe request to Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2023, following which the NCA deployed an undercover officer to further the investigation and leading to the arrest of Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau.

The NCA has now released 6 audio clips from the undercover operation on the NCA’s Instagram and X accounts. 
Andy Kelly, Head of the International Corruption Unit (ICU) at the NCA, said:

“We are particularly grateful to Gemfields for not only bringing this matter to our attention, but also continuing to work with us throughout the investigation to bring about a successful result.”

Thomas Short, a specialist economic crime prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Romy Andrianarisoa is a corrupt official who chose to enrich herself in the course of her public duties. By reporting the pair to the authorities Gemfields have protected their business and those of others from greedy and unscrupulous individuals.”

-Ends-

CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com

Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420 / +44 (0)7493 237598
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com

Albertina Namburete 
PR Manager 
Tel: +44 (0)783 325 7387 
Albertina.namburete@gemfields.com

Kagem responsible sourcing highlights

• Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
• Up to December 2022, Kagem had spent USD 3 million on community projects, and has committed further.
• Kagem constructed, expanded and rehabilitated 5 schools providing education to more than 2,000 students.
• Kagem committed USD 345,000 on top of previous provisions of USD 345,000 in university scholarships in geology and mining engineering.
• Kagem and Gemfields Foundation built and equipped two computer labs at Kapila Primary School and Chapula Secondary School.
• Kagem constructed 1 fully equipped health centre, the Nkana Health Centre, serving a population of 10,000.
• Kagem improved Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces and rehabilitated 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms.
• Kagem provides support to 7 farming associations benefiting more than 100 farmers and their families.
• Kagem supports the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) having committed a total of USD 400,000  since 2018 to 2027 and provided a one-off donation of USD 70,000 to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP).
• Kagem signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Zambia to fund the construction of the Chapula Vocational Training Centre in Lufwanyama.
• Kagem employs more than 1,000 people, of which, 94% are Zambian nationals.

About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values –  transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others. 
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly mined coloured gemstones.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.

Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Foundation  | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn