Cardoso trial tests credibility of justice system

It is billed as the trial of the year. Three of the six men on trial for the assassination of investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso have accused a son of Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano of being involved in the killing. Testimony presented to the court cover allegations of an extensive international network of drug dealing, money laundering and customs fraud. Under a gigantic tent erected inside Mozambique's most secure prison, in the suburb of Machava, near Maputo, five suspects have, since 18 November, been telling Judge Augusto Paulino, of their involvement in the murder of Cardoso, which shocked Mozambique two years ago. Cardoso, founder, publisher and editor of the now defunct daily newsletter, Metical, was murdered on 22 November 2000, as he left his office for home. At the time of his death he was investigating a US $14 million fraud at one of the branches of the then state owned Commercial Bank of Mozambique (BCM). Only two of the accused have pleaded guilty. A sixth suspect, Aníbal dos Santos Júnior, also known as Anibalzinho, is on the run, after escaping from Machava Prison on 1 September. Anibalzinho is believed to have masterminded the operation, and without him in court, it may prove difficult to establish the real identity of those who ordered the assassination. According to three of the accused, Nyimpine Chissano, 33, allegedly in collusion with a number of the country's elite, ordered Cardoso’s assassination, and paid up to 1 billion meticais (about US $40,000) for the hit. One of the accused, Momade Assif Satar, also known as 'Nini', showed the court seven cheques belonging to Express Tours, a company of which Chissano Jr. is a director. Nini told the court that he received the cheques directly from Chissano Jr., who also ordered him to make payments in cash to Anibalzinho. But Chissano Jr. has denied signing cheques to pay for Cardoso's murder, saying that although some of Cardoso’s articles may have offended his family, he did not hold any grudge against the journalist. President Chissano has publicly maintained that the due process of law must prevail in the case. The trial in the Cardoso case was only made possible due to pressure brought to bear by local civic organisations and the international community, sometimes with veiled threats of aid suspension. Observers said that even if the whole truth in this case never came to light, the trial would go a long way in restoring the credibility of Mozambique's judicial system. In an unprecedented move, the trial judge has agreed that the proceedings be broadcast live on national television and radio. "This openness has allowed the public to see justice being done and for each to draw their own conclusions," said Linette Olofsson, a member of parliament for the main opposition Renamo. "It has far reaching political implications," she added.