Cuito - Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) has said that the former director of the Former Combatants and Fatherland Veterans’ Office of the central Bié province António Jacinto José deserved a term of imprisonment not less than ten years.
António Jacinto José is charged with various crimes, ranging from 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, which started on 2 May, 2022, resumed Wednesday (04 Jan), was marked by presentation of verbal and final allegations, in which the court heard only the Public Prosecutor's Office and four other defendants.
The session was also marked by the challenge of defendant's defense on the accusation, therefore asking the judge of the case, Eduardo Catombela, for acquittal.
Twenty one co-defendants are also included in the process as well as more than 100 reporting members, including the former provincial vice-governor for the Political, Social and Economic sphere, Carlos da Silva, and the current director of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland, Isaac Machado.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in 2019 it was found that the defendants, in a coordinated manner, were making use of public fund, with values allocated to the 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, Akz 301.3 million was diverted from the State's monthly balances.
According to the document, the defendants defrauded the State of Akz 972.4 million.
