MOZAMBIQUE: ANIBALZINHO RECEIVES MAXIMUM SENTENCE

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000107

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
NSC FOR CCOURVILLE
JUSTICE FOR CCOSTARODRIGUES AND THALL
MCC FOR SGAULL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KCOR PHUM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: ANIBALZINHO RECEIVES MAXIMUM SENTENCE
FOR ROLE IN CARDOSO MURDER

REF: A. 05 MAPUTO 1569


B. 05 MAPUTO 133


1. On January 20 a Maputo City Court sentenced Anibal
"Anibalzinho" dos Santos Junior to 29 years, 11 months, and
25 days for his role in the November 2000 gunning down of
investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso. The court found
Anibalzinho guilty on all nine of the counts he faced. The
court also ordered him to pay compensation of 14 billion
meticais (approximately USD 560,000) to Cardoso's two
children and 1.5 billion meticais (approximately USD 60,000)
to Carlos Manjate, Cardoso's driver who was injured during
the shooting. Judge Dimas Morrao also stated that
Anibalzinho, a Portuguese citizen, should be deported to
Portugal after serving his 30-year sentence in Mozambique,
though it is not clear whether this was a binding order.


2. Background: Carlos Cardoso, Mozambique's foremost
investigative journalist, was murdered in November 2000 while
in the midst of investigating the 1996 theft of USD 14
million from the Bank of Mozambique (BCM). Anibalzinho was
arrested on suspicion of involvement in the Cardoso murder in
March 2001. He escaped from prison in September 2002, just
before the start of his trial. In January 2003 he was
sentenced in absentia to 28 and half years for his role.
Anibalzinho was captured in South Africa the day before the
verdict was announced. Returned to Mozambique, he managed to
escape a second time in May 2004 and fled to Canada. He was
detained, however, and then in January 2005 brought back to
Mozambique (ref B). Shortly before his return, in December
2004, the Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling
granting a retrial for Anibalzinho, stating that anyone
sentenced in absentia to a prison term of more than two years
must be allowed a retrial. The retrial began on December 1,
2005 in a Maputo City Court (ref A). End background.


3. Comment: Public reaction to the verdict, through positive,
has been muted. According to most media commentators there
was little, if anything, new revealed during the retrial.
Many expressed doubts Anibalzinho would actually serve out
his full sentence in captivity, given his past escapes. It
is widely believed he had assistance from powerful
individuals who do not want the truth about the Cardoso
murder revealed. Former President Chissano's son, Nyimpine
Chissano, was alleged to have been involved in the Cardoso
murder and testified in both trials, but so far an
investigation into Nyimpine's role has stalled at the
Attorney General's office.
Dudley