Maputo, 24 Feb (AIM) – Mozambique’s Central Office for the fight against Corruption (GCCC) on Tuesday confirmed that more than 20 staff in the Administrative Tribunal and the Mozambique Tax Authority (AT) are suspected of acts of corruption.
GCCC spokesperson Romualdo John, speaking at a Tuesday morning press conference in Maputo, did not name any of the suspects. He said the cases are currently at the stage of preliminary investigation, and none of the suspects have yet been charged.
As for the claims that staff of the Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) have been bribed to facilitate certain cases, John said he was aware the claims and action is being taken against the offenders. He said that some PGR staff have been charged, and their cases sent to court.
John said that acts of corruption in public institutions over the past year have cost the Mozambican state more than two billion meticais (about 31 million US dollars, at the current exchange rate). The GCCC has only recovered about 11 million meticais of this amount.
John declared that to identify further acts of corruption, civil society must be vigilant and must make denunciations of crimes based on facts.
Also on Tuesday, the authorities announced the arrest of Argelencia Unguana, the administrator of Xai-Xai district, in Gaza province, on charges of stealing donations intended for the victims of the catastrophic flooding that overwhelmed much of Xai-Xai city in January.
Also arrested was Dora Adelina Artur, the director of the office of the Gaza provincial governor, and a local warehouse official.
Among the stolen items were 218 mattresses, 41 bales of clothing, maize flour, rice, cooking oil, and biscuits. According to Rádio Moçambique, searches are currently under way at residences where the items were being hidden.
(AIM)
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