The defendants in the "Hidden Debts" case, in Maputo, reaffirmed, this Thursday (10) their innocence, of the accusations of embezzlement of millions of dollars, a scandal that caused the rupture of relations between Mozambique and major international partners.

The trial of the biggest corruption scandal in Mozambique has been going on for about seven months. The Judicial Court of Maputo City heard 19 defendants and 69 defendants implicated in the case.

Since last week the closing arguments have been going on. The lawyers presented their opinions at the same time as they hurled various accusations at the prosecution. This Thursday the court heard, for the last time, the defendants, who have been in custody for more than two years. They all reiterated their innocence and reaffirmed that they were victims of strange circumstances.

After hearing the parties, the judge of the case, Efigénio Baptista, considered the main phase of the process concluded and will prepare the sentence, which will be revealed next August 1st.

One of the pending cases in the process is the hearing and discussion of the preventive seizure of assets, requested by the Public Ministry. However, the judge said that the case is not forgotten and may be rescheduled as soon as a decision is made in the case against him.