Portuguese court orders return of 82 million euros to Sonangol

     Economy           
  • Luanda     Monday, 23 May De 2022    18h34  
View of SONANGOL's headquarters
View of SONANGOL's headquarters
Pedro Parente-ANGOP

Luanda - Portuguese justice ordered the return of 82.9 million euros to the State-owned oil company Sonangol, which were being held captive as part of one of the processes investigating Isabel dos Santos.

According to the order of the Central Court of Criminal Instruction of Lisbon (Portugal) to which ANGOP had access, dated 7 December 2021, magistrate Ivo Rosa considered that the money in question is licit and has no connection to the Angolan businesswoman.

The seizures had been made from the Esperaza Holding company, which brought together Sonangol and Exem Energy, owned by Isabel dos Santos, and the decision came after the Dutch Arbitration Court ruled, in July 2021, that Sonangol had always been the legitimate owner of 100% of Esperaza's shares.

After that decision, Sonangol rushed to the Portuguese courts to claim the assets seized and the magistrate ruled in favour of the national oil company.

According to the order, Ivo Rosa considers that the amounts credited to the company's account correspond to distribution of dividends and not, as initially indicated, an act of appropriation of Angolan public money or a money laundering manoeuvre.

 





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