The Superior Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office has decided to sanction the dismissal of a magistrate and the expulsion of four bailiffs and an assistant bailiff.

According to a press release from the institution, quoted by the newspaper Domingo, it is a magistrate with the rank of first class prosecutor, on the staff of the Maputo Provincial Prosecutor's Office, for favoring the release of an imprisoned defendant, of foreign nationality, accused of international drug trafficking.

The measure falls within the remit of this management and disciplinary body for magistrates, bailiffs and assistants, which met at its 17th Ordinary Session of the plenary session held from April 3 to 5.

Also for breaching judicial rules, four judicial officers and one judicial assistant, in the categories of Provincial Law Clerk, District Judicial Clerk and District Diligence Officer were expelled from the staff of the provincial prosecutor's offices of Cabo Delgado, Tete and Zambézia.

For the Superior Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office, these officials were expelled due to the use of their functions for their own benefit and to the detriment of third parties, by requesting and accepting monetary amounts to facilitate the release of imprisoned defendants, as well as the closing of criminal cases under investigation.