The Public Prosecutor's Office opens five lines of investigation into corruption at LAM

Multi-million dollar contracts for the acquisition of aircraft, the leasing of an aircraft that never flew, and dubious management of the South African company Fly Modern Ark are at the center of the suspicions that led the Public Prosecutor's Office to tighten the net around the national airline.

The Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC) has opened five criminal proceedings to investigate an alleged corruption scheme at Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM). The investigations involve deals ranging from the purchase of aircraft and strategic service contracts to alleged mismanagement during the period when the company was under external administration.

The information was released this Tuesday by the spokesperson for the GCCC, Romualdo Johnam, at a press conference, and cited by Carta de Moçambique. According to the official, investigators are meticulously analyzing contracts for accommodation, catering, and fuel supply, as well as aircraft acquisitions and agreements made without proper legal justification.

One of the cases that promises to raise controversy is the rental of a Boeing C37 aircraft, intended for cargo transport. The aircraft, which never operated due to lack of licensing, was allegedly paid for, thus causing losses to public funds. "Despite not flying, the payments were made," said Johnam, quoted by the publication.

Another process is running in parallel to scrutinize the legality of the actions taken under the memorandum of understanding between Fly Modern Ark Airlines and the Institute for the Management of State Holdings (IGEPE). The South African company was in charge of managing LAM between February 2023 and September 2024, hired under circumstances considered unclear by the current Executive to revive the airline. The result, however, was the opposite: the company returned to state control in a situation described as insolvency.

There are also suspicions of irregularities in translation services, which, according to preliminary evidence, may have been carried out by LAM employees themselves, raising the possibility of overbilling or even the absence of formal contracts.

Based on the evidence already gathered, the GCCC acknowledges that the facts under investigation may constitute crimes of mismanagement, abuse of office or function, embezzlement, and other offenses that may be confirmed during the course of the proceedings.