Mozambique: PGR denounces “disinformation” – AIM report

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Mozambique: PGR denounces “disinformation” – AIM report

1:31 CAT | 29 Dec 2019

File photo: Lusa

The Mozambican Attorney General’s Office (PGR) has denied information circulating on social media according to which it has opened a case file against the sons of President Filipe Nyusi and against a senior sales executive of the Abu Dhabi based company Privinvest, Jean Boustani, in connection with the scandal of Mozambique’s “hidden debts”.

A note issued by the PGR on Friday denounces as a forgery a supposed press statement claiming that it is investigating Boustani, and the President’s sons, Florindo and Jacinto Nyusi, for crimes of embezzlement, corruption, money laundering and fraud, based on the revelations made during Boustani’s trial in New York in November.

The term “hidden debts” refers to the loans of over two billon US dollars that three fraudulent security related companies, Proindicus, Ematum (Mozambique Tuna Company) and MAM (Mozambique Asset Management) obtained from the banks Credit Suisse and VTB of Russia, on the basis of illicit loan guarantees issued by the previous government under President Armando Guebuza.

The money was sent to Privinvest, which was the sole contractor for the three companies. US prosecutors accused Boustani of conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud and securities fraud. Although a New York jury acquitted him, a great deal of additional information about the scandal became available during the trial.

The fake statement appeared to be an official document, on PGR headed paper, but the PGR dismisses it as just a fabrication.

The PGR says that its genuine statements are sent to the Mozambican media through formal channels. All information of public interest is distributed through these official channels, and not through social media.

The PGR says it repudiates all actions intended to disinform the Mozambican public about the actions under way in the case of the hidden debts.

The PGR is pursuing cases in connection with the scandal against about 20 people, several of whom are in preventive detention, including, Ndambi Guebuza, the oldest son of the former President, the former head of the Security and Intelligence Service (SISE), Gregorio Leao, and the former head of SISE economic intelligence, Antonio do Rosario, who became chairperson of Proindicus, Ematum and MAM.

There can be no doubt that, if Boustani were to set foot in Mozambique, he would be detained. But there is little likelihood of that. Boustani is believed to be still in the United States.

Source: AIM