Privinvest’s historical project – Savana

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Privinvest’s historical project – Savana

4:14 CAT | 22 Nov 2019

File photo: Savana

Jean Boustani, the true architect of the three security projects that are under scrutiny in Brooklyn, could not have finished his statement in his own defence better: ” These projects are historical projects. These projects can make billions for the Republic of Mozambique. And they are game changers in Africa and for the economy. All what the
government of Mozambique needs to do, and I urge them and please to President Nyusi, put the plug in the socket and activate this project.”

In 12 almost perfectly choreographed hours, Jean Boustani laid out his defence of the creation of Proindicus, Ematum and MAM by Armando Guebuza’s presidency, turning dozens of payments to Mozambican civil servants into gracious offers and investment in the long-term future, as he himself heard it from his own boss, Iskandar Safa, the Lebanese owner of Privinvest.

Boustani, despite evidence of rusty boats in the port of Maputo and the bankruptcy of Proindicus and Ematum, said he still believed in the coastal defence project. “They are historical projects,” he said. About the revelations made in April 2016 by the international press, he said it was “all lies”. Like deputy Música, when she learned of the “hidden debts” at the same time.

He admitted supporting Frelimo and its 2014 election campaign, and mentioned that problems with the security companies [involved] stemmed from “internal political struggles” within Frelimo following the election of President Nyusi. No problem with party support because, “Even in the New York Times, which I read in prison, I see support for political campaigns here in the United States.”

READ: What Boustani really said in New York trial; about Mozambique and more – full transcripts from the court

“There was a kind of coup to remove Armando Guebuza from the party leadership,” he said, opining that the current administration is carrying out a “hypocritical campaign” against the project and the previous leadership of the country. That is why he maintained permanent contact with the former president, who asked him “to keep him informed of the projects”. In the post-election political turmoil, Boustani addressed Gregório Leão, the head of SISE, calling for clarity within the government and urging the projects to be implemented rather than abandoned.

Papa Guebuza

But his enthusiasm betrayed him. His lawyer, in a studied defence, stated that he did not participate in the restructuring of the projects, but on 28/03/2016 had informed “Papa Guebuza” that “I was successful in refinancing all the projects”, which led Judge Kuntz to question whether or not he had he participated. He “hadn’t”, after all.

The defence shows a picture of the Ministry of Finance (MEF) building. Boustani says that “the IMF delegation works there”, at the top of the building. No one questioned him about the institution’s facilities at Kenneth Kaunda Avenue, right next to the World Bank and the Canadian Embassy. The defence wanted to, but could not file [in evidence] a communication between an IMF official and a Credit Suisse official trying to prove that, in 2015, the institution run by Christine Lagarde already knew about the loans granted to Proindicus.

In his narrative, the project started moving on 20/01/2013, when he was at Armando Guebuza’s 70th birthday party – his first meeting with him. But the contract he said he never read – between Privinvest and the newly created Proíndicus and with his signature on it – is dated 18/01/2013, two days before.

He also said that, on 21/01/2013, Armando Guebuza had not yet met Teófilo Nhangumele, although correspondence to him was being addressed to the Presidency from 2011 on. Although Guebuza said no one should receive a penny from the project, Teofilo, aka Nguila Guidema, and agent Bruno Langa, received US$17 million for intermediating the Proindicus contract.

In the words of Iskandar Safa, Privinvest’s boss, Guebuza was not a man to receive a “success fee” for a project. “He is the richest man in Mozambique, and probably one of the richest in Africa… . We have to have a long term relationship between him and us” for business in Mozambique and abroad. Previously, Guebuza had, in Boustani’s words, delegated the business to “Armando”, “Junior” or Ndambi, as well as project communications. The president told Boustani that he was “the largest businessman in the country … we are probably the largest business family in the country”. Boustani said Privinvest is currently in business with the Guebuza family in real estate and telecommunications.

On Thursday, the prosecutor prepares to destroy Boustani’s choreography and his defence. Eventually, this Friday, Judge Kuntz will prepare to hand down his sentence, after hearing the jury’s verdict: guilty or not guilty?

Source: Savana