Angola: Ex-president’s daughter accuses current president of persecuting her

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Angola: Ex-president’s daughter accuses current president of persecuting her

6:58 CAT | 26 Apr 2021

File photo: Lusa

Tchizé dos Santos, daughter of former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, on Monday accused the head of state, João Lourenço, of persecuting her by asking for information about her assets in Portugal, like other Angolans.

“Those who do not owe do not fear, each country can ask for the list of assets it wants,” she said, commenting on news that her name is on a list of Angolans whose assets in Portugal were collected by the Portuguese justice system at the request of the Angolan Attorney General’s Office (PGR).

“We already know that President João Lourenço has a persecution campaign against me,” said Tchizé dos Santos, who denies any political favour in building her financial empire in the media and banking sector.

“I have always been an entrepreneur, I founded two banks in Angola. Thank God it was not with public money,” she said, adding that she trusts justice.

“I am not worried if President João Lourenço wants to pursue me, let him pursue me,” added the businesswoman, who is married to a Portuguese citizen and maintained that she has made several investments in Portugal, without listing them.

“There is free initiative and it is not yet forbidden for businesspeople to invest outside the country,” she noted, considering that this “persecution is costing the Angolan government dearly.

The name of Tchizé dos Santos is on a list handed over by Portugal’s Central Department for Investigation and Criminal Action to the Angolan authorities, which refers to a list of assets of Angolan citizens in the country and which are being investigated by Luanda.

A source linked to the case confirmed to Lusa the existence of a detailed report, with bank balances, real estate and stock exchange transactions.

According to Correio da Manhã newspaper, this report complies with a rogatory letter that the PGR delivered a year ago, which included dozens of names, including Tchizé dos Santos’ sister, Isabel dos Santos, who is being investigated by the Angolan justice system and who has several assets in Portugal, including direct and indirect stakes in companies.

Leopoldino do Nascimento (‘Dino’), José Filomeno dos Santos – another son of the former president -, Manuel Hélder Vieira Dias (‘Kopelipa’) and João Maria de Sousa are other names on the list.

Source: Lusa