South Africa rejects U.S. request to extradite former Mozambican Finance Minister
South Africa’s government rejected a request from the US to extradite Mozambique’s former Finance Minister Manuel Chang to stand trial on corruption charges.
Instead, Mr. Chang will be forced back to Mozambique, where he is wanted on similar charges.
“I have decided that the accused, Mr. Manuel Chang, will be extradited to stand trial for his alleged offences in Mozambique,” Masutha said in a statement on Tuesday.
Chang was arrested on December 29 in South Africa. He is also wanted by the US for his alleged involvement in financial crimes totalling $2bn.
Masutha said Mozambique asked for his extradition soon after the US submitted its request.
Last month, a South African court ruled that Mr. Chang could be extradited to the US.
But Mr. Masutha said he took into account the fact that Mr. Chang was a Mozambican, and had asked to be extradited to his home country.
