Former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, detained in South Africa at the request of the U.S. in the hidden debt case, will be extradited to his country starting this Monday, an official source told Lusa.

"The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services therefore confirms that a decision has been made to extradite the accused to Mozambique," South African ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri told Lusa.

A spokesman for the South African Justice Ministry explained that Manuel Chang is "considered extraditable" under article 10 (1) of the South African Extradition Act, adding that "he will be handed over to the Mozambican authorities to be tried under Mozambican law for abuse of position and function, violation of budget laws, fraud, embezzlement, passive corruption, money laundering, and criminal association."

The transfer of Manuel Chang from the Modderbee Correctional Center, east of Johannesburg, to the authorities in Mozambique is being facilitated by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the South African spokesman told Lusa.

Manuel Chang, 64, was arrested in South Africa on December 29, 2018, while attempting to board a flight to Dubai, in light of an international warrant issued on December 27 by US Justice, which requested his extradition as part of its investigation into 'hidden debts' in Mozambique.

The US courts have charged Manuel Chang with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and money laundering.

It was Manuel Chang who guaranteed debts of more than two billion dollars secretly contracted in favor of the public companies Ematum, Proindicus and MAM, linked to fishing and maritime security, in Mozambique, according to the US indictment.

Lusa Agency