Africa-Press – Angola. The trial of the “Lussati case”, which involves military and civil servants linked to the then Security House of the President of the Republic, begins on the 28th of this month, at the Talatona Convention Center, in Luanda.
According to a notification from the 3rd Section of the Common Crimes Room of the Luanda District Court, which will judge the case, 49 defendants are listed, including the principal, Pedro Lussati.
The defendants are accused of 13 crimes, including embezzlement, criminal association, undue receipt of advantage, economic participation in a business and money laundering, all on an ongoing basis.
The list of crimes allegedly committed also includes abuse of power, fraud in the transport or transfer of currency abroad, illicit introduction of foreign currency into the country, illegal currency trade and forgery of documents.
As witnesses, more than 200 people were enrolled. Taking this number into account, as well as the number of defendants and their legal representatives, the judge in the case decided to transfer the trial from Palácio Dona Ana Joaquina, where the Luanda District Court operates, to the Talatona Convention Center.
Given the number of people to be heard, a long trial is awaited. Among the witnesses listed are Generals Alfredo Tyaunda, who is heard on 18 July, Hélder Vieira Dias Júnior “Kopelipa” and Sequeira João Lourenço (11 August), in addition to Eusébio de Brito Teixeira, João Baptista Chindande, Higino Carneiro and Pedro Mutindi, to be heard on the 12th of August.
The case became public in June last year, when Major Pedro Lussati, considered the leader of the group, was arrested, after being found in possession of millions of dollars, euros and kwanzas stored in suitcases and crates, owner of more than a dozen vehicles.
Subsequently, several officers linked to the President’s Security House were dismissed, including General Pedro Sebastião, at the time Minister of State and head of that body, who was replaced in office by General Francisco Pereira Furtado.
According to Lusa, the initial indictment, dated 9 December last year, contained 51 defendants, but two were eventually withdrawn during the contradictory instruction phase of the process, which was also known as “Operação Caranguejo”, for not there is enough evidence to bring them to trial.
Lussati Is Fine, Says Lawyer
Pedro Lussati, the main defendant in “Operation Crab”, is “psychologically well”, but weakened, in physical terms, he told Lusa, his lawyer, Francisco Muteka.
The lawyer explained that the soldier is recovering from the fractures suffered at the time of the arrest. “He is undergoing physical therapy and is in preventive custody at the São Paulo Prison Hospital,” he said.
Regarding the fact that the trial took place at the Talatona Convention Center, the lawyer considered that the Luanda District Court understood that the place that most confers dignity to a trial like this had to be a space capable of housing more than 300 people.
In addition to Major Pedro Lussati, Francisco Muteka will also defend Fernando Dumbo, who is also detained at the São Paulo Prison Hospital.
Fernando Moisés Dumbo is second on the list of the 49 defendants involved in the process and Lusa identifies him as Lussati’s nephew.
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