The Supreme Court of Angola, on Tuesday, December 27, ordered the seizure of assets held abroad by Isabel dos Santos, eldest daughter of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, estimated at a value of one billion dollars.
This asset freeze is not the first for this Angolan businesswoman targeted by a major investigation for corruption and embezzlement of public funds. It concerns bank accounts and holdings in several companies based abroad (Mozambique, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe).
Specifically, the court ordered the freezing of 70% of the shares of the telecommunications company MSTAR in Mozambique, 100% of the shares of UNITEL T+ in Cape Verde, and UNITEL STP in Sao Tome and Principe, two companies which Isabel wholly owns.
In addition, the ordinance targets the company EMBALVIDRO with the freezing of 100% of the shares and of all the bank accounts; 70% of the shares of UPSTAR Comunicação; and 100% of the shares of UNITEL International Holding and UNITEL International.
The Angolan justice says it bases its order on the law in force in the country and on “Article 31 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption”.
His decision comes about a month after a communication operation led by Isabel to proclaim his innocence. The 49-year-old businesswoman has been on the receiving end of the law since the accession to power of current President João Lourenço, having succeeded Dos Santos, who has made the fight against corruption his hobbyhorse.
By OMA Newsletter N° 997 of 29/12/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
