Luanda, ANGOLA, January 22 - The Supreme Court (TS) resumed this Tuesday the trial of "Thai Swindle” case with interrogations to Thai businessman, Raveeroj Ritchoteanan, representative of Centennial Energy Company Limited, who has been indicted in this process. ,

In the prior session, the Asian businessman pledged to introduce evidences to the court that prove the authenticity of the USD 50 billion check he issued.  

 

On Friday, the defendant affirmed to have more than USD 50 billion, while answering a question posed by the collective of judges, having pledged to introduce evidences over the authenticity of the check, in further sessions.

 

The spokesperson of the process, Judge Lourenço José, said to the press that the sessions could be conducted until February 2.

 

The process involves the ex-director of the former Technical Unit for Private Investment (UTIP), Norberto Garcia, other three Angolans, four Thai citizens a Canadian and an Eritrean.  

 

They are all accused by the Prosecuting Council (MP) of having committed crimes of falsification of documents, fraud, association of criminals and money laundering.

 

The Supreme Court has acquitted the former Chief of General Army Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, even at the stage of contradictory investigation (criminal file used to assess the degree of guilt of the accused before the trial).

The scheme was revealed in 2017 when alleged Thai investors, with alleged complicity of national citizens, attempted to "swindle" the Angolan State for USD 50 billion.

 

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