Africa-Press – Angola. The reading of the judgment in the trial of the deputy commissioner of the National Police, Paulo de Jesus da Silva, accused of arms trafficking, was scheduled for the 21st of this month, by the Supreme Court.
The decision was taken this Wednesday by the reporting judge, João Fuantoni, after reading the questions.
In the same process, registered under number 35/22, in which the Public Ministry is a participant, defendants Joaquim Matondo Marques Fernandes and Tony José are involved.
In the case file, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, represented by magistrate Lucas dos Santos, accuses the deputy commissioner of having imported, without an updated license for that purpose, from Namibia, bladed weapons and firearms, using illegal means and avoiding customs posts.
Among the lethal means are eight pistols, 15 sabers, five rifles, including two machine guns, and several ammunition carriers.
According to the accusation, the commissioner asked for help from his friend Joaquim Matondo Fernandes to use influence to remove the goods from Namibia and he, in turn, appealed to an acquaintance, Tony José, resident in Ondjiva, Cunene.
In turn, the deputy commissioner’s defense lawyer, José da Costa, said he was satisfied with the questions presented, as they were in line with the evidence production process, and therefore believed in a fair trial.
“We ask that justice be done, and only justice”, stressed the defender, minimizing the accusation, considering that these were recreational weapons and knives for domestic use, and not for war.
Likewise, the deputy commissioner, who was previously deputy director for armaments and explosives, denies that it is lethal material, saying that the weapons are sporting rifles, shot-by-shot and not bursts, and the sabers are knives. domestic use and are therefore not prohibited.
Judge advisor João Fuantoni is assisted by colleagues Nazaré Pascoal and Raúl Rodrigues.
Number 1 of article 279 of the Penal Code establishes penalties of between one and eight years in prison for the crime of arms trafficking.
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