Angolan Court Jails Dozens for Financial Fraud and Embezzlement in High-Profile Corruption Trial

A Angolan court sentenced dozens of former soldiers and officials to prison terms for financial fraud and embezzlement in a high-profile corruption trial. Here’s a brief summary of the case.

Defendants Sentenced

49 defendants were found guilty and face up to 14 years in prison.
Among them were former members of the presidential guard, bank workers, and government employees linked to the presidential security service.

Charges and Damages

The trial, which began in June, centered on various charges, including embezzlement, fraud, and abuse of power.
The court found the defendants “guilty of seriously damaging the state through continued illegal activities.”
Total damages estimated at 38 billion kwanzas ($77 million).

infamous Instances of Corruption

One of the most notorious instances of corruption involved deceased soldiers who remained on the payroll of the presidential guard unit between 2008 and 2018, leading to an estimated 38 billion kwanzas ($77 million) in salary payments.
Stashes of foreign and local currency were discovered in Luanda properties belonging to Major Pedro Lussaty.
Lussaty was found in possession of $4 million in cash, €391,000, and 30 expensive watches worth approximately $600,000.

Logistical Challenges

The large number of defendants and witnesses necessitated the relocation of the trial from standard courts to the sprawling Talatona Convention Centre.
The trial involved over 30 lawyers defending the accused.
Several lawyers plan to appeal the convictions and sentences.

Epicenter of the Crimes

The evidence presented during the trial suggested that the crimes had their epicenter in the office of the secretary-general in the presidency.

Background

Angolan President Joao Lourenco, a former general, came to power in 2017 with promises to address the rampant corruption that had taken root under his predecessor, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Opposition parties criticized Lourenco for continuing nepotistic practices.
Dos Santos, who died in July after suffering cardiorespiratory arrest in Barcelona, was widely accused of appointing family and friends to key positions during his 38-year rule, leaving the southern African country with a legacy of poverty and nepotism.
An opposition politician and lawyer, Helder Chihuto, remarked during the trial’s opening that the accused individuals were “small fish” compared to the larger corruption schemes implicating Dos Santos and his inner circle.