Manuel chang
Ex-Moz finance minister Chang to be extradited to US over corruption charges
Former Mozambican Finance Minister Manuel Chang signed off on these while in office in 2013 and 2014.
Over the past decade countries including Mozambique and Lesotho have failed to have accused and convicted criminals face the music in those countries.
Manuel Chang has been held in South Africa since December 2018 at the request of US authorities over his alleged involvement in the huge fraudulent loans to Mozambique state firms that plunged the economy into crisis.
Both Mozambique and the United States (US) have been seeking to prosecute Chang over an alleged R30 billion fraud.
Subject to any appeal, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola will now make the final call in a 10-month battle for Manuel Chang’s custody that has put the United States and Mozambique at loggerheads.
Manuel Chang allegedly helped himself to a portion of a $2 billion loan that the country secured during his tenure.
Chang has been in custody in South Africa since his arrest in December at the request of the United States for his alleged involvement in $2 billion of borrowing US authorities say was fraudulent. He denies wrongdoing.
Instead, the department said Masutha could have arrived at a different decision if he had the information that is now available.
Manuel Chang has been held in South Africa since December at the request of US authorities over alleged involvement in $2 billion of fraudulent loans to Mozambique state firms.
In May, South Africa said it would send Manuel Chang back to Mozambique, which had requested his extradition, rather than agree to a competing US extradition claim.
Former Mozambican minister Manuel Chang, 63, was arrested in South Africa in December at the request of US authorities over alleged involvement in fraudulent loans to Mozambique state firms.
Manuel Chang, 63, was arrested at Johannesburg airport in December at the request of US authorities over alleged involvement in fraudulent loans to Mozambique state firms worth $2 billion.
Manuel Chang was arrested at the OR Tambo airport in December on a US extradition request over his alleged involvement in $2 billion of fraudulent loans to state firms.
The unexpected petition means Mozambique and the United States both want to extradite Chang, who was arrested at Johannesburg airport for his alleged involvement in $2 billion of fraudulent loans.
Manuel Chang has been appearing in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court over the last three days following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport last month.
Manuel Chang has told the court he wants to apply for bail after it ruled on Wednesday that his arrest and detention was lawful.
The United States wants to extradite Manuel Chang from South Africa to stand trial with four others accused of fraud and corruption worth an estimated $2 billion.
Mozambique’s former finance minister Manuel Chang and four others have been implicated in fraud and corruption worth an estimated $2 billion.
Manuel Chang is accused of signing off on government guarantees on projects awarded to front companies for which he was allegedly paid about US$5 million into an account in Spain.