Madagascar is seeking an Interpol red notice to arrest a close associate of the ousted president over the transfer of Boeing aircraft to Iran in violation of US sanctions, according to a letter seen by AFP.
Mamy Ravatomanga, one of Madagascar's richest men, fled to the neighbouring island of Mauritius on October 12, days before a military coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina.
Mauritius has frozen the assets of the 56-year-old businessman, who is in hiding, and on October 16 issued a warrant for his arrest on money-laundering charges.
A letter to Interpol from Madagascar's justice ministry and dated October 20 said Ravatomanga had been identified by a suspect during interrogation as among "individuals associated with the project to send these planes to Iran."
Five Boeing 777s
The affair involves five Boeing 777s transferred to Iranian airline Mahan Air in July in violation of US sanctions.
The ministry asked Interpol to issue a red notice to find Ravatomanga, "an individual sought in the case... but currently at large", so that he could be arrested.
It is alleged that the transfer of the planes was made possible through registration certificates issued by Madagascar's Civil Aviation Authority (ACM).
ACM has claimed the certificates were falsified.
Other suspects link Ravatomanga to the alleged crime
Other suspects detained in Madagascar over the affair identified Ravatomanga, during interrogations conducted notably by the FBI, as the mastermind of the deal, people with knowledge of the case have told AFP.
US representatives in Madagascar did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Ravatomanga's company, the Sodiat Group, also did not respond.
Rajoelina went into hiding just before he was ousted on October 14 in a coup led by the commander of an army unit, Michael Randrianirina, who was sworn in as president on October 17.
