Mozambique closes corruption probe into LAM aircraft purchases

Mozambique's anti-corruption agency, the GCCC, has closed its investigation into possible irregularities surrounding LAM Mozambique Airlines' purchase of three aircraft. The aircraft were a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, bought for about six million dollars, and two Embraer E190 jets.

An internal review had earlier flagged a number of problems with the deals: missing or inadequate formal approvals, weak economic feasibility studies, shortcomings in the procurement process, and insufficient pre-purchase inspections of the aircraft.

The GCCC said, despite those findings, that the irregularities were not serious enough to establish criminal responsibility on the part of those involved. The news agency Lusa reported the decision to close the case.

No further details were given on when the purchases took place or who within LAM oversaw them. It is also unclear from the available information whether any administrative or internal disciplinary steps followed the audit's findings, separate from the criminal inquiry that has now ended.

LAM Mozambique Airlines is the country's flag carrier. The case had drawn attention in Mozambique amid broader scrutiny of public procurement practices at state-linked companies.