A sum valued at more than 130 million meticais disappeared from the accounts of the Tax Authority (AT) and the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) during the first half of the year.

The embezzlements were detected by the Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC), and senior officials from these institutions are suspected of being involved in the embezzlements.

AT is investigating the embezzlement of around 81 million meticais, and MND around 52 million meticais.

The AT is suspected of embezzling funds through tax fraud and the use of forged documents to obtain a refund of Value Added Tax (VAT). The scheme involves a company in the fuel sector in Tete with links to employees of the institution who received the money.

There are four defendants in the case, one of whom is in pre-trial detention. They are accused of document forgery, abuse of office and function, aggravated fraud and money laundering.

In the MDN, high-ranking officials allegedly transferred the money to companies without holding public tenders or signing contracts, citing military urgencies.

In this case, five defendants have already been constituted, in a case that is still at the pre-trial stage. They are accused of embezzlement, tax fraud, illicit enrichment and money laundering.

This information was provided on Tuesday (06) by the GCCC spokesman, Rómulo Johnam, in the half-yearly review of the institution's activities. (Source: News. Image: DR)