The extradition of former Mozambique finance minister Manuel Chang has been halted after it emerged that Chang enjoys double immunity under Mozambican law.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola announced in a statement on Saturday that he has authorised the director-general of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Vusi Madonsela, to file papers in response to Chang’s urgent application to be surrendered to Mozambican authorities.
These papers will overturn a decision by the previous justice minister to have Chang extradited to Mozambique.
Chang was arrested in South Africa on December 29, and is wanted by the United States for his alleged involvement in financial crimes totalling $2bn.
In May, former minister Michael Masutha decided to extradite Chang to Mozambique. Masutha’s decision followed the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court decision regarding the extraditability of Chang to both the US and Mozambique.
