The defense lawyers for the 19 defendants argued Monday that the prosecution has failed to produce evidence of the charges against their constituents, and therefore requested their acquittal of the crimes of which they are accused.

The lawyers made the request to the Judicial Court of Maputo City on another day of the final allegations of the Hidden Debts case.

The defendants' defense believes that although the trial has been going on for about seven months there are still many unanswered questions, including the precise or real value at issue in the case.

The lawyers' counter-argument focused on the prosecution's strategy to charge the defendants.

"Many questions were left up in the air, without it being clear what happened, besides that, the first confusion that the defense faces, is if we are judging the debt of how much, how the disbursements were, where they went and to whom they went, and finally, what destination the said amounts had, or if we are judging by its illegality," said the lawyer Alice Mabota.

"If we add up the amounts they are accused of, it is $70 million, which is three percent of the total debt. What about the rest?" questioned Abdul Gani.

The defense's closing arguments continue today and a date for sentencing is expected to follow.

It should be recalled that the prosecution asked for the maximum penalty, which is equivalent to 18 years in prison, for half of the defendants and close to the maximum for several others, as well as the acquittal of one of the defendants.