Africa-Press – Angola. The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) asked for the conviction of the former director of the Office of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland of Bié, António Jacinto José, to a prison sentence of up to ten years.
António Jacinto José, who began his trial in Cuito on May 2 last year, is accused of crimes of embezzlement, criminal association, economic participation in business, influence peddling, misuse of subsidies, undue receipt of advantages, money laundering of capital and violation of budget rules.
The trial resumed this Wednesday, with presentation of oral and final allegations, in which the court heard only the MP and four other defendants.
The session was also marked by the defendant’s defense contesting the prosecution’s piece, therefore asking the judge of the case, Eduardo Catombela, for acquittal.
In the process, called “Former combatants case”, 21 co-defendants are also listed, with the same and other crimes, as well as more than 100 declarants, including the former provincial vice-governor for the Political, Social and Económico, Carlos da Silva, and the current director of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland, Isaac Machado.
According to the Public Ministry, in 2019, it was found that the defendants, in a concerted manner, were polishing the treasury, with values attributed to Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland.
Many of the pensioners were on the payroll illegally and earning large sums.
During the period from January 2016 to September 2019, 301 million 387 thousand and 406 kwanzas were diverted from the State’s monthly balances.
Thus, according to the file, the defendants defrauded the State of 972 million 470 thousand and 856 kwanzas.
The Angolan State will manage to save 27 million 514 thousand and 919 kwanzas each month, with the definitive exclusion from the payroll of more than 1,300 false pensioners assigned to the Office of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland in Bié province.
Between June 2021 and February 2022, the sector carried out a re-registration that made it possible to detect false pensioners.
With the exclusion of this number, the Government of this region now controls 5,247 members, against the previous 6,589.
The trial resumes on Monday the ninth.
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