Africa-Press – Mozambique. Gauteng High Court has postponed consideration of a request to suspend Manuel Chang’s extradition to Mozambique, leaving the former finance minister in detention in South Africa until at least September 17, Lusa reports.
Judge Edwin Molahlehi decided this Friday (August 27) to postpone to that date the examination of the Budget Monitoring Forum’s (FMO) application on the extradition of the former minister of finance Manuel Chang to Mozambique.
“The case will be heard on September 17, 2021. Part A of this application is withdrawn in its entirety,” Judge Molahlehi announced, adding that the case would be “expedited as a matter of urgency”.
The judge announced his decision at the end of a virtual court hearing marred by repeated interruptions for mediation and consultation between the parties because of lack of understanding as to which part of the FMO’s application the court would hear, including the allocation of costs.
The FMO favours the extradition of Manuel Chang to the US, and on Tuesday submitted an urgent action requesting a review of SA Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola’s decision to extradite Chang to Mozambique.
On Tuesday, the judge in charge of the hidden debts case in Mozambique, Efigenio Baptista, ruled that Chang would be heard “as a deponent” in the trial, which is taking place in Maputo.
