court in Angola on Thursday imprisoned dozens of former soldiers Belongs to the Presidential Guard for up up to 14 years for Fraud and embezzlement in High-level mass corruption trial.
forty nine peopleincluding officers serving during that era of former President José Eduardo dos Santos is associated with the Presidential Security Service as well as bank workers gone on Experience in Jun.
that they faced Various charges, including embezzlement, fraud and abuse of power.
“It has been proven that the state has been hit hard by of … continued illegal activities, so this court found Judge Andrade da Silva said.
a total of Witnessed 202 witnesses against The group.
in one of Examples of Violations mentioned by the court during six- Marathon Judgment Hour, Hundreds of dead soldiers in The Presidential Guard unit remained on Payroll between 2008 and 2018.
Salaries paid to the ghost military workers hurt government of About 38 billion kwanzas ($77 million), the court found.
some of Army officers accused of her hand in hideouts of foreign and domestic currency found in Angolan boxes and suitcases prosecutors earlier last year.
investigators found $4 million and 391 thousand euros ($400,290) in cash In two real estate owned by Wanda one Army Major Pedro Alsati. It was also found in possession of 30 hours worth The judge said $600,000.
The sheer number of The intent of the accused and witnesses standard The courts were too small The trial was moved to the Talatona Convention Center, which is located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the south. of The capital, Luanda.
it was there more More than 30 lawyers defend the accused, who They indicated that they would appeal the convictions and sentences.
epicenter of were the crimes office of The secretary-general in presidency.
President Joao Lourenco a former generalCame to me power in 2017 promising to tackle so rampant corruption took Root under his predecessor dos Santos.
was re-elected after tight win in in August vote It was disputed before main opposition party UNITA.
Dos Santos – who Die in July in Barcelona, after weeks of suffering from heart and respiratory diseases arrest – accused of appointment family and friends key Positions over 38-year ruleleaving the country in southwest Africa with legacy of Poverty and nepotism.
When the trial opened in June, opposition politician and lawyer Helder Chihutu noted that people on was the trialsmall fish.”
