Former Finance Minister Manuel Chang has confessed to receiving seven million dollars in bribes from Privinvest. In order to do so, Chang also agreed to return the money to the Mozambican state, an act that played an important role in a favorable decision for Mozambique by the London Court.

Speaking yesterday at a joint press conference between the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Deputy Attorney General, Ângelo Matusse, confirmed from London that he had indeed received the bribes to enable the hidden debts that defrauded the Mozambican state of around 2.7 billion dollars.

"Yes, we've confirmed it," said Angelo Matusse, without giving any further details.

On the same occasion, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Amílcar Tivane also confirmed the information, adding that Mozambique has already received the money returned by Manuel Chang. "All the amounts received in the context of the processes associated with these loans, once the process is underway, have been channeled and are in the custody of the PGR," he said.

Quoted by the newspaper "The Country", the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance stressed that the prosecutor's "custody" of the amount returned by Chang will continue until the cases reach their conclusion.

(Photo DR)