00:00Madagascar has handed over 50 Chinese nationals convicted of online fraud to Chinese authorities
00:06in what officials are calling a major result of judicial cooperation between the two countries.
00:13The transfer took place on September 8th and more detainees convicted of similar offences
00:18are expected to follow soon.
00:20Authorities say the operation was carried out under cooperation mechanisms linked to
00:25the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, to which Madagascar acceded in 2005.
00:33Both countries say they will continue working together alongside other international partners
00:37to crack down on online fraud networks.
00:40Authorities say the transfer does not mean they have been released, and the convicted individuals
00:44will continue serving their sentences in Chinese prisons.
00:48Sentences vary according to each person's level of involvement in the scamming networks,
00:52ranging from 2 to 5 years for lower-level operatives, and 5 to 10 years for those in charge
00:59or their employers.
