Mozambique: Parliament gives green light to Chang’s pre-trial detention

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Mozambique: Parliament gives green light to Chang’s pre-trial detention

12:44 CAT | 29 Jan 2019

Edson Macuacua. Photo: O País

Mozambique’ Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs on Monday gave a green light to hold the country’s former finance minister Manuel Chang, detained in South Africa on charges by the United States, in pre-trial detention.

The head of the parliamentary committee, Edson Macuacua, said the committee considered that the “foundations, preconditions and requirements” had been provided for the parliament to approve Chang’s pre-trial detention.

Speaking to the media in Mozambican capital Maputo moments after the committee’s meeting, Macuacua clarified that in the order sent to parliament, Mozambique’s Supreme Court does not ask for Chang’s immunity to be lifted but does ask for parliament’s consent for Chang to be held in pre-trial detention.

Chang was detained in South Africa on 29 December when he was trying to embark for Dubai following an extradition request issued by the American authorities, triggering a political crisis ahead of the elections later this year. He was detained over apparently fraudulent loans to state companies worth $2 billion.

Source: Lusa