Maputo — The Mozambican Public Prosecutor's Office has expressly forbidden Nyimpine Chissano, the oldest son of Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, and his business partner Apolinario Pateguana, from leaving the country, reports Friday's issue of the independent newsheet "Mediafax".

This ban follows the testimony given by both men at the Carlos Cardoso murder trial, and the claims by some of the accused, notably money-lender Momade Assife Abdul Satar ("Nini"), that Nyimpine Chissano paid for the murder.

The ban may also have been precipitated by a report a week ago that Chissano, his wife Candida Bila, and Pateguana were preparing to live in South Africa - though this report was promptly denied.

Chissano was only heard as a witness in the current trial: but a second case file has been opened on the murder, in which he is a suspect. "Mediafax" says it has confirmed that he will be questioned by the Maputo City Court in this second case on Monday.

The court will also question as a suspect Octavio Muthemba, a former industry minister, and former chairman of the Austral Bank, one of the privatised banks that Cardoso was investigating in the final months of his life.