PGR Mozambique believes former finance minister was the victim of a violation of “the most fundamental rights”

The Attorney General of the Republic of Mozambique said on Wednesday that former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, who was extradited to the United States, is the victim of violations of “the most basic human rights” without trial for more than five years.

Manuel Chang’s detention more than five years ago and his extradition to the United States in a hidden debt case more than a year ago “attacks the most basic rights of a citizen, depriving him of his liberty.” stated Beatrice Buchili during the annual information on the activities of the public ministry for 2023 before the Assembly of the Republic.

Chang has been held in New York custody since July last year after being extradited from South Africa as part of a case involving hidden debts in Mozambique.

Buchili criticized the fact that the US justice system had not yet tried Manuel Chang after the US “claimed to have all the evidence, including the indictment.”

Chang’s extradition to the United States, he continued, harms the progress of the autonomous process initiated by the Mozambican justice system in the case of hidden debts.

“Mozambique respects the decision of South Africa’s highest court, despite the belief that our country is the only country with jurisdiction to prosecute this case,” the republic’s attorney general said.

Manuel Chang’s trial will begin on July 29 in New York, US, over undeclared debts to Mozambique, the anti-corruption NGO said.

The trial date was set by Mozambique’s Center for Public Integrity (CIP), which has been monitoring the case and notes that it will coincide with the campaign period for Mozambique’s general elections.

In a 23-page document, the US government, through the Department of Justice, brought a new charge against Manuel Chang, whom it also calls “Panther” and “Chopstick”, classified as a “superseding charge”.

The US government argues that the Mozambique Maritime Integrated Monitoring and Protection (SIMP) project, which created “hidden debts,” was not designed by the Mozambican government and was not intended to protect Mozambican maritime space.

The indictment says it is “a shell project created by the defendants and co-conspirators for the purpose of making money.”

“In fact, the maritime projects Proindicus, EMATUM and MAM were used by defendant Manuel Chang and his co-conspirators to divert a portion of the loan proceeds to pay millions in bribes to themselves, other government officials and Mozambican bankers,” the US alleges. Department of Justice.

“In connection with their fraudulent scheme, the co-conspirators relied on the U.S. financial system, among other things, to identify and provide security for investors and potential investors with a physical presence in the United States,” the document adds.

However, according to the indictment, “the co-conspirators redirected a portion of these amounts.” [de empréstimos] make payments of bribes and kickbacks in US dollars using the US financial system through transactions transferred through bank accounts in the US, including at least five million US dollars. [4,6 milhões de euros] for Defendant Manuel Chang through the Eastern District of New York.”

The former finance minister denies all accusations and points to current President Filipe Nyusi, who was defense minister at the time, as the one who ordered him to sign bank guarantees that made the hidden debts viable, according to Mozambique’s CIP.

Chang was Mozambique’s finance minister during Armando Guebuza’s government between 2005 and 2010 and reportedly had $2.7 billion (€2.5 billion) in guaranteed debts secretly negotiated in favor of Ematum, Proindicus and MAM. public companies that are talked about in the North. American prosecution allegedly created for this purpose in the maritime security and fisheries sectors, between 2013 and 2014.

The mobilization of loans was organized by Credit Suisse and VTB of Russia and was allegedly secretly approved by the Frelimo government, led by then President of the Republic Armando Guebuza, without the knowledge of parliament or government. Administrative court.