Mozambique: Former minister Helena Taipo released after two years in pretrial detention

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Mozambique: Former minister Helena Taipo released after two years in pretrial detention

8:23 CAT | 11 May 2021

Screen grab: STV

Helena Taipo, former Minister of Labour, former Governo of Sofala province and former ambassador to Angola, was released from pre-trial detention this Tuesday afternoon, after two years in prison, on charges of alleged involvement in the diversion of 113 million meticais at the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

She will now await trial on a Statement of Identity and Residence.

Helena Taipo já está em liberdade
Helena Taipo foi, hoje, restituída à liberdade#helenataipo #liberdade #desviodedinheiro #inss #opaisonline #opais #gruposoico https://t.co/2bT6p84eBI pic.twitter.com/Ux3rYNiBCy

— O País Online (@opaisonline) May 11, 2021

Nércio Bomba, one of the former Minister’s defence lawyers told “O País”, over the phone, that Helena Taipo was released by means of a habeas corpus application filed by the defence and granted by the Maputo Superior Court of Appeal ”.

The writ of habeas corpus was issued by the Superior Court of Appeal on the grounds of “pre-trial detention deadlines’ extrapolation,” the lawyer said, quoted by ‘O País’.

A soltura da antiga ministra do Trabalho, embaixadora e governadora resulta de uma petição de “habbaes corpus” submetida ao Tribunal pelos advogados em Dezembro do ano passado#helenataipo #liberdade #desviodedinheiro #inss #opaisonline #opais #gruposoico https://t.co/2bT6p84eBI pic.twitter.com/TGlvun9veD

— O País Online (@opaisonline) May 11, 2021

Helena Taipo was arrested in April 2019, after a hearing at the Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC).

Also read: “INSS case: Court dismisses Helena Taipo’s appeal – Noticias report

Just in: Helena Taipo may have been detained – report

Attorney General seizes property, vehicles and documents belonging to Helena Taipo

The facts in this case date back to 2014, when Helena Taipo served as Minister of Labour and, therefore, supervised Mozambique’s Social Security Institute, the INSS..

Helena Taipo has two lawyers residing in the city of Beira, in Sofala province: Nércio Bomba and Ivan Pontavida.

By Emídio Sambo