Mozambique: Former ambassador convicted of embezzlement

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Mozambique: Former ambassador convicted of embezzlement

9:23 CAT | 20 Mar 2019

Defence lawyer Pedro Macarinque has announced he will appeal the verdict. Photo: DW

The Judicial Court of Maputo has sentenced Mozambique’s former ambassador Amélia Sumbana to 10 years in prison for embezzlement of $500,000 (€440,000) between 2009 and 2015, when she headed the country’s embassy in the United States.

“These financial crimes are spreading in our country and cause alarm among citizens”, judge Rui Dauane said on Tuesday, after reading the sentence.

Amélia Sumbana was charged with misuse of power, embezzlement and money laundering.

The diplomat was ordered to pay the Mozambican state €243,000 in compensation and the authorities have seized her property in downtown Maputo.

Moreover, the court has decided to freeze her bank accounts with some €5,000.

“The state should seize all the offender’s assets”, the judge stressed.

According to the accusation, the former ambassador used public money to buy and recover her property in downtown Maputo, issued bank checks to herself and asked for reimbursement of flights she never took.

The defence lawyer, Pedro Macarinque, has announced he will appeal against the verdict.

Source: Lusa