Luanda, ANGOLA, February 1 - The former director of the Angola Roads Institute (INEA), Joaquim Sebastião, is in pre trial detention after being heard Thursday by the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), in Luanda.,

The former official was subjected to several interrogations and later legalized his detention by the Attorney General's Office, Angolan National Radio (RNA) broadcasted Friday.

Joaquim Sebastião is suspected of committing crimes of embezzlement. Other officials from the Angola Roads Institute are also being heard in the same process.

The former director was sucked in early December 2010, Joaquim Sebastião was surprised on Wednesday at his residence in Talatona, Luanda, by a SIC team with an arrest and search warrant.