Last Monday, Angola’s former president’s son José Filomeno dos Santos (photo) was arrested over a $500 million embezzlement case.  

Suspected of having illegally transferred about $500 million of public funds to a bank account in the UK, José Filomeno who was managing Angolan Sovereign wealth fund was found guilty in March 2018 of fraud, embezzlement, traffic of influence, money laundering and criminal association.

According to Angola’s attorney general, this preventive detention was necessary because of the case’s complexity and seriousness and, it should enhance the efficiency of investigations.

Let’s remind that this legal action falls within the framework of the anti-corruption battle initiated by the current president Joao Lourenço and which led to the dismissal of Isabel dos Santos who was managing the national oil company Sonangol as well as the arrest of the former governer of Angola’s central bank.

It is worth reminding that Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, one of Jose Filomeno dos Santos’ kin who was also involved in the sovereign fund’s management, has also been arrested.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou