The Mozambican Government has confiscated assets worth more than 1 billion meticais (about $16 million) over the past year, in a renewed effort to fight against crime and corruption, a senior official said on Monday.
Helena Kida, Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, said the suspects acquired the seized assets through criminal means.
“It is urgent to introduce laws to confiscate illicit assets,” Kida said at a meeting held in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital.
At the meeting, judicial authorities and experts discussed strategies for fighting against corruption.
“Even though the criminals were penalised, their assets remained in their hands,” the minister said.
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She said the identification and recovery of the assets, before the sentence of criminals, continues to be a challenge for the organs of justice.
“The criminals often commit crimes without having the assets in their name.
“And the law has to allow the authorities to pick up these assets,” Kida said.
She added that the government would place the seized assets under the management of various sectors of the country pending the decision of the court. (Xinhua)
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