Luanda, ANGOLA, September 25 - The former CEO of the Angolan Sovereign Fund (FSDEA), José Filomeno dos Santos, has been placed under pre-trial detention on suspicion of crimes like being part of a criminal association, irregular acceptance of advantages, fraud, embezzlement and corruption, among others. ,

Besides the former CEO of the FSDEA – who is son of the former Angolan president, José Eduardo dos Santos – the authorities have also held on remand his business partner, Jean Claude Bastos de Morais.

A press communiqué from the State’s Attorney-General Office (PGR), states that this measure has been taken by the Prosecution Department following interrogations carried out by the institution and also to guarantee efficiency in the continuation of the investigation process on the issue.     

The PGR note also states that the evidences that have been collected so far show strong indication that the detained individuals are involved in serious crimes.

Besides the lawsuit relating to mismanagement of the FSDEA, José Filomeno dos Santos and Jean Claude Bastos de Morais have also been indicted for a fraud involving USD 500 million, whose lawsuit has already been filed in the Supreme Court.   

This second lawsuit has to do with the transfer of USD 500 million from Angola to the United Kingdom, allegedly as part of the creation of a strategic  investment fund for Angola.

The mentioned amount was transferred after the operation was authorised by the then governor of the Angolan Central Bank (BNA), Valter Filipe, who has equally been indicted by the PGR.

The detention of José Filomeno dos Santos and Jean Claude Bastos de Morais happens after the Prosecution Department last Friday formally charged the two with four crimes, namely criminal association, influence peddling, fraud and money laundering.

On the same day, the PGR also indicted and detained the former Transports minister, Augusto Tomás - who was dismissed from the post last June - on suspicion of crimes like embezzlement, corruption and money laundering.  

In the ambit of this lawsuit, the authorities also detained Rui Manuel Moita,  former deputy director-general of the National Freight Council, an institution that functions under the umbrella of the Transports Ministry.

Since he took over on September 2017 as head of the Angolan State and Executive, President João Lourenço has been taking concrete steps towards materialising his pledge of seriously fighting corruption, nepotism, impunity and adulation.  

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