The Public Ministry magistrate, Ana Sheila Marrengula, on Thursday repudiated the financial "theft" committed by at least 19 defendants in the main Hidden Debt case.
Speaking during the first day of the oral closing arguments, Marrengula called the "theft" committed by the defendants "disgusting," and that damaged the Mozambican state by at least 2.7 billion dollars, making the case the largest financial default in Mozambique.
"History will take care of capturing the real and exact dimension of the economic, political and social costs of this disgusting theft from Mozambicans," he said.
The magistrate pointed out that during the preparatory instruction, adversarial instruction and trial it was shown that the defendants had "criminal co-participation" in defrauding the Mozambican state of $2.7 billion
"It is an established fact that this [financial] rupture translated into extremely serious damage to the finances of Mozambicans and to the country's reputation in international markets," emphasized, the representative of the Public Ministry, who was reading for 10 hours.
Essentially, in its closing arguments, the Public Prosecutor's Office reiterated the contents of the indictment, insisting that the state-owned companies ProIndicus, Empresa Moçambicana de Atum (Ematum) and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM) were created for the sole purpose of draining the money that fed the gigantic corruption scheme of Mozambicans and foreigners, and not for maritime safety and fishing projects.
"The three companies did not operate and did not generate revenue, but rather generated huge losses and burdens for themselves and the state," he pointed out.
To justify the creation of the three firms, Sheila Marrengula continued, the main defendants in the case prepared feasibility studies that were not adjusted to the reality of the activity sectors in which they would allegedly operate.
In addition, the defendants acted in collusion with the Dubai-based shipyard group Privinvest, signing contracts for the supply of goods and services that served to conceal the fraudulent intent of the deals.
The Public Prosecutor targeted more severely Ndambi Guebuza, defendant and oldest son of Armando Guebuza, President of the Republic at the time of the loans, for having received 33 million dollars to bring to his father's approval the project of protection of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that served as a pretext for the mobilization of the loans.
Accusing Ndmbi Guebuza of "influence peddling and criminal partnership," the prosecution described the defendant's actions during the trial as "arrogance, lack of respect and contempt.
Ndambi Guebuza "broke the record for unanswered questions" during his questioning in court, the prosecutor noted.
Also António Carlos do Rosário, defendant and former president of the three companies of the "calote", was harshly criticized by the Public Ministry, which accused him of leading "zaragata" and "contempt" throughout his hearing.
The Public Prosecutor's Office read the final allegations concerning the indictment of five of the 19 defendants, namely Nbambi Guebuza, António Carlos do Rosário, Cipriano Mutota, a former member of the State Information and Security Services (SISE), the Mozambican secret service, Teófilo Nhangumele, an independent consultant and manager considered by the prosecution to be one of the brains behind the scheme, and Bruno Langa, a friend of Armando Guebuza's eldest son.
The prosecution continues today the reading of the final statements against the other 14 defendants, which will then be followed by the defense lawyers.
Source: view