"It is confirmed that searches are carried out in execution of a request for international judicial cooperation received from the Angolan authorities. The steps take place in consulting companies and in a banking entity and are directed by the Public Ministry of the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP)", replied the PGR to the Lusa agency.
The request follows a news report from Observador and Visão, which reports that the Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out, earlier this week, searches in Lisbon, the consultants, Bonston Consulting Group and Pricewaters Coopers, as well as the bank Eurobic.
According to information collected by Visão, these steps were carried out at the request of the Angolan authorities in connection with the investigation of Isabel dos Santos, a businesswoman who, despite the international arrest warrant issued by Interpol, continues to share her daily life in Dubai on social networks.
Visão adds that the rogatory letter sent by the Angolan Attorney General's Office to the Portuguese counterpart requested the seizure of documents at the two consultancies, entities that, according to the Angolan investigation, only served to embezzle money from Sonangol. In turn, in the processes in Portugal, the businesswoman has claimed that both consultants actually provided services to the Angolan oil company as part of a restructuring process carried out during her mandate.
The universe of investigations into Isabel dos Santos, in Portugal, is not limited to the alleged embezzlement of Sonangol funds. In all, there are 17 lawsuits against the businesswoman, writes the magazine, adding that, according to a judicial source, the result of these investigations should, in large part, be sent to Angola, the country where the crimes preceding the money laundering of which Isabel dos Santos is suspected in Portugal.
In December 2022, the Supreme Court ordered the preventive seizure of Isabel dos Santos' assets, valued at 1 billion dollars, namely 100 percent of the shares in the company Embalvidro, where the defendant is the beneficial owner.
According to the judgment, revealed by the Lusa agency, the criminal chamber of the TS referred that the arrest also covered all bank balances of current deposits titled or co-titled, headquartered in all banking institutions, including term deposit accounts, other financial investments that are associated or dossiers of securities in the name of Isabel dos Santos.
The order of the supreme court, dated December 19, 2022, indicated that, among the assets indicated to be seized, are 70 percent of the shareholdings in the company UPSTAR Comunicação that the "defendant is the beneficial owner".
Lusa contacted Eurobic, but so far has not received a response.
