Angolan President João Lourenço has granted a pardon to José Filomeno dos Santos, the son of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, who was serving a five-year prison sentence for embezzlement.
The move, part of a broader clemency initiative, aims to mark the upcoming 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence from Portugal.
The presidential decree, posted on Facebook on Wednesday, cited "good behaviour" and the "absence of social danger" as key factors for granting freedom to the convicts. José Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled Angola for 38 years until 2017, saw his son, José Filomeno dos Santos, convicted in 2020 for crimes including embezzlement and influence trafficking.
The younger Santos was found guilty of transferring $500 million from the National Bank of Angola to an account in the UK, an action that triggered the country's first major corruption case following the transfer of power.
The pardon was part of a broader effort to foster a "climate of harmony, leniency, indulgence, concord, and fraternity," the decree explained. This clemency was announced as the nation prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence.
The decision comes amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the Dos Santos family’s legacy. In November, the UK government sanctioned Isabel dos Santos, a prominent businesswoman and the eldest daughter of the former President, citing allegations of systematic corruption.
The UK claimed that Isabel dos Santos "systematically abused her positions at state-run companies to embezzle at least £350 million ($443 million), depriving Angola of vital resources and funding for development."
Isabel dos Santos is currently under investigation in Angola for potential illegalities related to her management of the national oil company Sonangol between 2016 and 2017. The Dos Santos family has consistently maintained that they are the targets of a political witch hunt.
The pardoning of José Filomeno dos Santos marks a significant development in Angola’s efforts to address past and present corruption allegations, reflecting a complex mix of reconciliation and ongoing legal battles.
Post a Comment