Mozambican national sentenced to 20 years in jail for rhino poaching in South Africa
Mozambique:133 acquired of terror-related charges in Cabo Delgado since 2017
2:48 CAT | 08 Sep 2020
File photo: O País
More than half of the defendants accused of participating in the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado have been acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The information was confirmed by the provincial Judicial Court, which has already processed 11 criminal cases against alleged members of the armed group carrying out attacks in the province since 2017.
“Since the beginning, about 122 defendants have already been tried and convicted and about 130 defendants have been acquitted. This large number of acquitted defendants is part of the 186 defendants in the 32/2018 case, which was the first to be tried,” court spokesperson Zacarias Napatima revealed.
The high number of acquitted persons, according to Napatima, was due to the alleged inexperience of the justice organs that had never faced terrorism cases.
“This was a situation that took us by surprise, and we had never been prepared to deal with crimes of this nature, if not those common crimes, but we were gaining experience. All the organs of justice and the service improved, and from then on there were processes with well- investigated data, which meant that we had well-investigated cases,” Napatima said.
Of the criminal cases related to the terrorist attacks, of which eight have been tried, one was annulled due to the death of the defendant, the South African citizen Andre Hannekon, accused of financing the armed group. At the moment, only two cases remain open, one of which concerns two journalists from Nacedje Community Radio in Macomia district, detained for more than 100 days on accusations of violating state secrets and incitement to violence.
“In this case, there had already been a definitive indictment, but when the defendants were notified of the court order, they filed an appeal, which was forwarded to the Superior Court of Appeal in Nampula, which has not yet ruled. But the two journalists are [now awaiting trial] on bail,” Napatima explained.
Trials related to the terrorist attacks began in October 2018, with defendants sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to 40 years for crimes against state security, against state organisation, for instigating violence and collective disobedience, and possession of prohibited weapons, among others.
Among those convicted are men and women, both Mozambican and foreigners, including Tanzanians, Somalis and Burundians.
By Hizidine Achá
Source: O País
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