Hidden debts: Covid-19 interrupts trial – AIM report

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Hidden debts: Covid-19 interrupts trial – AIM report

8:52 CAT | 14 Dec 2021

Photo: O País

Judge Efigenio Baptista, of the Maputo City Court, on Monday adjourned the trial of 19 people charged with crimes arising from the scandal of Mozambique’s “hidden debts” until 6 January, after one of the defence lawyers tested positive for the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease.

The lawyer (whose name was not given) tested positive on Thursday, which is the real reason why there was no hearing on Friday.

On Monday, the courtroom, located in a large tent erected on the premises of the Maputo top security prison, was disinfected. Everybody in attendance – including the judge, the public prosecutors, lawyers, court staff, and journalists – was obliged to undertake a rapid Covid-19 test.

According to the independent station “TV Sucesso”, some of these were positive but the station did not say how many.

When business got under way, at about 11.00, public prosecutor Sheila Marrengula pointed out that the Covid-19 health protocol demands that all those who have been in contact with an infected person should go into home isolation for 14 days.

Since the tent is fairly crowded, pretty well everybody attending the trial could be said to have been in contact with the stricken lawyer. So everybody needs to go into isolation.

Some conspiracy theorists on Facebook have suggested that the unnamed lawyer is not really ill, and this is all just a piece of theatre to ensure that the lawyers can enjoy a long Christmas and New Year break.

However, it is certainly true that, since the beginning of December, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases reported from Maputo city and province. It would not be at all outlandish if one of the “hidden debts” lawyers was among the victims.

The Mozambique Bar Association (OAM), which is assisting the prosecution, suggested that 6 and 7 January should be reserved for further Covid-19 testing.

Baptista rejected this further delay, pointing out that the determining factor is not how many tests people take, but whether they respect the basic preventive measures against Covid-19 (such as regular washing of hands), wearing masks, and social distancing.

Most of January will be used to hear the remaining witnesses – who include former Interior Minister Alberto Mondlane, former Fisheries Minister Victor Borges, and the former President of the Republic, Armando Guebuza.

Source: AIM