Former Mozambican Finance Minister Manuel Chang has finally been extradited to the United States after a protracted extradition battle played out in South African courts.
On Wednesday, South Africa’s Justice and Correctional Services surrendered Chang to US Marshals Service, who promptly flew him to the US, where he is to be tried on charges of fraud.
Below is is the timeline from his arrest on 29 December 2018 to his extradition on 12 July 2023.
US issue international arrest warrant for Manuel Chang
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Chang arrested at OR Tambo International Airport
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Kempton Park court judge legalises Chang’s detention
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Mozambique submits extradition request
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Chang returns to court to be heard on the two extradition requests
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Chang applies for bail
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Kempton Park court refuses to release Chang on bail
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Justice Minister Michael Matsupa decides to extradite Chang to Maputo
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Justice ministry grants FMO leave to intervene as respondent in the Chang extradition case
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FMO intervenes in the case
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Incoming Justice Minister Ronald Lomola files consolidated affidavit setting aside Matsupa’s decision to review the law
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Chang’s lawyers and Mozambique appeal decision before Gauteng High Court
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Gauteng High Court overturns Matsupa’s decision to extradite Chang to Maputo and puts matters back in Lomola’s hands.
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Mozambique decides on two-pronged appeal course: South Africa Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal
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Mozambique drops its two-pronged appeal to South Africa Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal
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Mozambique requests Lomola to surrender Chang to Maputo
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Mozambique appeals to High Court of South Africa to force Lomola to decide on extradition
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Lomola decides to surrender Chang to Maputo
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FMO seeks injunction against Lomola’s decision before the Gauteng High Court
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Gauteng High Court hears FMO appeal
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Gauteng High Court suspends Lomola’s decision and declares Chang must be extradited to US
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South Africa Constitutional Court rejects Mozambique’s application to appeal arguing it was not in the interest of justice to hear the case at that stage
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High Court of South Africa dismisses Mozambique’s application for leave to appeal
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Mozambique applies for leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Appeal
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Supreme Court of Appeal denies Mozambique leave to appeal
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For the second time, South Africa Constitutional Court denies Mozambique leave to appeal and declares Chang must be extradited to US
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Chang’s US lawyers seek to dismiss US indictment against him
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US Government plane lands in Lanseria, Johannesburg, to take Chang to the US
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Last minute bureaucratic glitch prevents extradition
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Chang surrendered to US Marshal Services and flown to the US
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