Mozambique: Maputo to sue shipbuilder in UK over corruption

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Mozambique can sue the shipbuilder Privinvest in Britain, over allegations of bribery linked to a corruption scandal that caused a financial crisis.

Privinvest denies wrongdoing.

A decade ago three newly established companies in Mozambique took on debts of more than $2bn £1.6bn) – much of it without the knowledge of the country’s parliament.

The loans were for government-sponsored investment schemes including a maritime security fleet and a tuna fishery project.

Mozambique alleges that more than $130m in bribes were paid to corrupt officials and to Credit Suisse staff.

The bank has already been fined hundreds of millions of dollars by international regulators.