Mozambican Ex-Minister Faces U.S. Trial over $2B ‘Tuna’ Scam

By Lisa Vives

Information Network

A former government minister reputed to have orchestrated the embezzlement of over two billion dollars and the fabrication of a daring conspiracy whose victims were Swiss bankers, American investors and global lenders, has been extradited to the U.S. where it is hoped that justice will finally be served.

With the money he obtained from allegedly committing fraud and money laundering, the ex-minister from Mozambique, Manuel Chang, was going to buy a tuna fish factory for his (impoverished) country with borrowed moneyabout two billion dollars.

Chang won over American investors, the political elite, Swiss bankers, and the current Mozambican president, Felipe Nyusi. Three Credit Suisse bankers signed on as did Russian lender VTB.

Some money was indeed used to buy ships and other things related to the investment project.

However, the ships were never used and are rotting away in Mozambique’s ports. Also, they were not bought at normal prices but at hugely inflated prices.

The promised benefits for Mozambique were not realized at all. There was no added value. Instead, a huge mountain of debt was created. The cost so far is about USD 11 billion or the country's entire gross domestic product in a year.

The economic consequences will cost many people their lives, or already have.

Now, after sitting in a jail in South

Africa since December 2018, Mr. Chang has another place to goa prison in the U.S. where he is expected to await charges in the US relating to loans obtained from Credit Suisse and Russia's VTB bank that were guaranteed by the Mozambican government.

UK authorities have already fined the investment bank $178m over the scandal. The fine was part of a $475m settlement with UK, Swiss and US regulators.

The son of Mozambique's former president received a 12-year jail sentence over the $2.2 billion fishing project scandal that triggered an economic crisis in the country.

Manuel Chang, accused of receiving bribes of up to $18 million, pled not guilty in a federal court in New York, on July 13, 2023.

The former minister had fought his extradition to the U.S., and the Mozambican government’s own attempts to have Chang face trial in Mozambique had been dismissed by several South African courts. Some groups opposed his return to his own country because of concerns that he would likely be treated leniently.

In a letter a month ago to U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, one of Chang’s attorneys sought to have the case dismissed, asserting that Chang’s right to a speedy trial had been violated. Kickbacks were also given to some senior politicians. He has also been denied bail. The judge, citing the amount of money involved and the gravity of the charges, agreed with prosecutors that he could be a flight risk.

At least 10 people have already been convicted and sentenced to

Kenya, which have witnessed moves to introduce similar legislation over the past year – and that the American officer’s alleged involvement in “anti LGBTQ+ advocacy” goes against Intel’s public support for LGBTQ+ rights.

The (FWI) website carries a denial of the claims against them. “Despite media reports to the contrary, (FWI) has never advocated for or lobbied in favor of Uganda’s anti-homosexual bill, nor were we ever involved in promoting Uganda’s previous anti-homosexual bill – in fact, we opposed them both. (FWI) has never supported any efforts in Africa to promote anti-homosexual bills.”

But rights groups insist that the opposite is true. “There is nothing organic about the wave of anti-homosexuality bills we are seeing,” said Muthoni Ngugi, the head of the East Africa Legal Service Network, one of the organizations supporting the petition.

An Intel spokesperson said: “Intel is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion. We also understand that our employees have diverse opinions and viewpoints. We respect the rights of our employees to disagree with Intel’s policies or undertake outside activities as long as they treat their fellow employees with respect and act in accordance with Intel’s code of conduct.” prison by a Mozambican court over the scandal, including Ndambi Guebuza, the son of former Mozambican president Armando Guebuza.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for receiving up to $33 million from the corrupt deal. The consequences of the crime "will last generations", the judge said.

Do you live in District 4? Don’t forget, the Fourth Supervisorial District Election to replace the supervisorial seat left vacant by Nathan Fletcher will take place on August 15th.

But you don’t have to wait until then to cast your ballot. Official voter packets have been mailed out and early voting has begun.

You can vote from home and return your ballot through the mail – no postage needed –or vote at any of the Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes around the district from now through Election Day, August 15, 2023).

WhyThe person elected will fill District 4’s vacant seat for the remainder of the current term ending in January 2027. If no candidate receives a majority vote at the Aug. 15 election, then a special general election will be held on Nov. 7. Only those who live in the district can vote in the election.

Voting Information:

• Check online at sdvoice.info or read your official ballot packet for official ballot drop box locations.

• In person voting starts Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Registrar’s Office or any one of seven vote centers open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday, Aug. 15.

• All 14 vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Special Election Day Tuesday, Aug. 15.

How

You must sign the return ballot envelope for your vote to count. Voters who return their ballot through the U.S. Postal Service can track it by signing up for “Where’s My Ballot?”.

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Learn more about voting in the District 4 special primary election at sdvote.com, or call (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136.

Vote early and display your “I Voted” sticker (found inside your official ballot packet) your neighbors, family and friends can see you made your voice heard and had your say in what happens in District 4!