Lawyers suspended for 6-10 years

The Disciplinary Council of Mozambique’s Bar Association (OAM) has suspended six lawyers for up to 10 years for allegedly receiving an illegal sum of 39m meticais ($560 000). Milú Viana, Ivan Pontavida, Pereira Ferramenta and Aníbal Quetane, were sanctioned with 10 years' suspension, while Anabela Lemos and Laurindo Saraiva were sanctioned with a suspension of nine years and eight months,reports the Club of Mozambique. The proceedings stem from the insolvency of company Cimentos da Beira, declared in March 2022 by the central Provincial Court of Sofala in the context of an action brought by Logo Engineering. In 2024, the company’s management was transferred to Anabela Lemos as a legal official. The Bar Association revealed that there was violation of duties regarding integrity, independence, and professional probity, as well as collusion among parties involved in the insolvency proceedings; conflicts of interest; and the commission of acts incompatible with the role of insolvency administrator. ‘There was illegal transfer carried out by legal professional Anabela Lemos in her capacity as administrator of approximately 39m meticais from the company’s accounts to C&C Consulting, ostensibly as payment for services rendered. This sum was subsequently transferred to the bank accounts of six lawyers involved in the proceedings,' reads the statement. The Bar Association analysed electronic communications, banking documents and contracts and found out involvement of lawyers in various acts related to the administration of the insolvent estate. ‘In collusion with Dr Saraiva, Dr Anabela Lemos fabricated and arranged for the publication of false documents.’