The Mozambican anti-corruption task-force (Gabinete Central do Combate à Corrupção - GCCC) is investigating several former LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM, Maputo) executives over allegations of improper conduct during their tenure at the state-owned airline.
In a bulletin issued earlier this week, the GCCC fingered a former LAM financial director (name not supplied) for awarding twenty-five contracts worth MZN5.3 million meticais (USD190,000) to a construction firm linked to a blood relative, who was also a LAM employee at the time.
The violations are said to have occurred between 2008 and 2014 during the tenure of one Jeremias Tchamo.
In addition, the GCCC says it is also looking into LAM's dealings with an unspecified foreign firm over the purchase, sale and hire of two Dash 8-400s in 2008 during the administration of José Viegas. An audit of the deal is currently being carried out by the General Inspector of Finance (Inspecção Geral de Finanças).
The GCCC also noted that it had not found any evidence to substantiate claims of corruption leveled against former CEO Marlene Manave.
Earlier this year, LAM's new Chairman of the Board of Directors, António Pinto de Abreu, said the carrier had accrued USD160 million worth of debt at the beginning of the year although this figure had since been brought down to USD139 million.
