In a statement, the Associação para o Bem de Angola, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that defends human rights, expressed “immense concern” with “the numerous and constant anonymous denunciations (some even known)”, by “various strata of Angolan society , related to the person of Dr. Joel Leonardo”.
The association emphasizes that in the guise of venerable judge counselor president of the Supreme Court, Joel Leonardo “has the great responsibility of guiding his conduct based on the highest ethical, deontological and statutory principles, which come from the role of judge (public morality, irreproachability, ethics, probity, duty of reserve) and which, in turn, have constitutional roots”.
“Pro Bono Angola, an institution that defends human rights, transparency, ethics, integrity and responsibility in public management acts, is deeply concerned with the 'current state' of the judiciary in Angola, as it understands that, without a immaculate, strong, truly active and committed judicial power” with the aforementioned values, all the “effort of public moralization and fierce fight against corruption will fall to the ground”, the document reads.
In this sense, the NGO appeals to the President to “pay attention to the complaints, order an investigation and take the measures that are justified, aiming to put an end to the evils that plague the judiciary”.
