Maputo, 22 Nov (AIM) – The Maputo City Law Court has ordered the freezing of all bank accounts held by fugitive presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane.
A letter to the company Bayport Financial Services, signed by judge Ludovina David, and leaked to the media, asks for the complete identification of all bank accounts held by Mondlane, and the names of the other account holders in the case of joint accounts.
The court also demands copies of the documents used by Mondlane to open the accounts, and bank statements showing all of this year’s transactions, with documentary proof.
In particular, the court wanted details of any transactions involving money received from abroad, or funds sent out of the country. It also asked whether Mondlane’s name is on the list of bank clients caught issuing dud cheques.
Currently Mondlane’s whereabouts are unknown. For almost a month he has been out of the country, communicating with his supporters by live broadcasts transmitted via his Facebook page.
But on Thursday, he accepted an invitation from President Filipe Nyusi to a meeting in the presidential offices next Tuesday.
Despite the obvious risk of arrest as soon as he sets foot in Mozambique, Mondlane announced confidently his intention of going to the meeting. He announced that, on Friday, he will send Nyusi a proposal that should be discussed at the meeting. “The meeting should have an agenda”, he said, “and so that I don’t go there empty handed, tomorrow I shall submit to the President a notice signed by me and supported by various citizens who, throughout this period I have asked for their opinions about the demonstrations. The agenda has 20 points, and we shall share it with the Mozambican people and the international community”.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused Mondlane of a crime against state security, alleging that he intended to seize power through unconstitutional means.
There is also a civil suit against Mondlane and the Podemos party demanding payment of compensation to the state of the equivalent of 505 million dollars to cover damage caused during the demonstrations that he called.
Hence Mondlane is unlikely to attend the Tuesday meeting in person, unless he can obtain a guarantee that the arrest warrants will not be enforced.
(AIM)
Pf/ (378)
