Court gives Minister Lamola extradition teeth

A SA court yesterday revoked a decision to extradite to Mozambique its former finance minister Manuel Chang, wanted in relation to a $2 billion (R39,3 billion) debt scandal that plunged the country’s economy into crisis.

Both the US and Mozambique are seeking his extradition. He has been in custody in SA since December last year, when he was arrested at the request of the US. He denies wrongdoing.

Former SA justice minister Michael Masutha had decided before leaving his post that Chang should be sent back to Mozambique. But his successor, Ronald Lamola, applied to the court to have this decision set aside.

Yesterday, Judge Denise Fisher sent Masutha’s decision to extradite Chang to Mozambique, as well as his dismissal of the US extradition request to Lamola for him to rule on the matter. The parties can appeal the decision.

A lawyer for Chang did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Subject to appeal, Lamola will make the final call in a 10-month battle for Chang’s custody that has put the US and Mozambique at loggerheads, just as powers such as Russia cranked up efforts to gain influence in the African country.

One factor in Lamola’s move to have his predecessor’s decision revoked was a concern that Chang still benefitted from political immunity in Mozambique.

In an affidavit in August, Mozambique’s attorney-general said that before a lawmaker’s immunity could be formally lifted in the country, that person must appear before a judge there.

If sent to the US, analysts say he may reveal details, with implications for senior members of the ruling party in Mozambique.

The US charges relate to loans obtained from Credit Suisse and Russia’s VTB bank, guaranteed by the Mozambican government but some of which were not disclosed, that Chang signed off on during his 2005-15 term as finance minister. – Reuters