The sentence of the trial of the 22 activists, detained last Saturday, following the attempt to hold a demonstration, was read by judge José Pedro Lando, three hours after the initially scheduled time and with several impediments decreed by the magistrate.
Initially, the defendants were indicted for the crimes of disobedience to the dispersion order and participation in a riot, but 20 were acquitted of both crimes for "insufficient evidence". The remaining two defendants were sentenced to a 40-day fine each and payment of 60,000 kwanzas in court fees for the crime of disobedience.
Both were acquitted of the crime of participating in a riot for "insufficient evidence", as stated in the judgment presented in the seventh section of the Luanda District Court.
"The defendants are now warned that they will have 20 days to pay the costs, under penalty of replacing the fine with imprisonment", warned the judge, ordering, however, the return of the goods seized in the case.
According to the magistrate, it was proven that the defendants addressed a letter to the Government of the Province of Luanda (GPL), dated April 5, 2022, intending to hold a demonstration on April 10, but the letter did not receive a response within 24 hours. , as stated by law, but 72 hours later.
José Pedro Lando pointed out, in his intervention, that the LPG "went wrong" for not having responded to the request within the legally established deadline.
Supporting the release of political prisoners, demanding the removal of the Spanish company Indra from managing the 2022 general elections, and calling for an end to the military conflict in Cabinda, as the judge pointed out, were the purposes of the demonstration.
The summary trial, which began on Monday, amid complaints from the defense to contact the activists after his arrest on Saturday, ended this Friday with a "feeling of anger" on the part of the protesters and "satisfaction" on the part of of the defense.
In addition to the delay of more than three hours for the beginning of the session, journalists were not able to capture images in the room, but only to collect sound and take notes, with the judge arguing that the measure resulted from "previous situations that occurred", without further details. .
In addition to journalists, only the judge, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the defense, the defendants, bailiffs and national police officers were in the room, and family members and friends of the defendants were not allowed to enter.
For lawyer Zola Bambi, who was part of the defense group, and did not appeal the decision, the court's decision is satisfactory because the important thing was to demonstrate that the 22 people listed had not committed the crimes they were indicted for.
"The crime of participating in a riot was completely excluded, only the crime of disobedience (was considered). ", said the lawyer at the end of the hearing.
At least three women, including one pregnant and another with a seven-month-old baby, were involved in the process and were acquitted of the crimes.
Laurinda Gouveia, with her baby in her arms, told Lusa that she was "revolted" by the attitude of the court and the police, considering that the process was "rigged" and the aforementioned administrative institutions "do not work for a better Angola".
"And I cried, mainly, because a court as such should be in favor of justice, in favor of the dignity of the human person and we saw in the court that the judge was not impartial, he gave legitimacy to the physical offenses that the protesters suffered", he said.
The activist, who was part of the well-known 15+2 process, also complained about alleged police persecution of people who cry out for justice, especially protesters.
Laurinda also recounted the incidents she went through in one of the cells, where she was detained with the baby, referring that the situation "rekindled the spirit of revolt" because the conditions in which she was subjected "were inhumane".
"I wonder if they don't have that sensitivity to look at a being with only seven months? There was no such care with the child, they even asked for a mosquito net to protect the baby and not even that was given", she lamented.
For his part, activist Daniel Hebo, one of those sentenced with a fine, expressed his sadness at the authorities' attitude because "during the days we were in prison, we did not hear any statement about the attacks we were subjected to".
"I am not happy with the sentence because the national police are evil, they do not look well at activists and the court today did the same thing", he shot.
Another activist, whose sentence was suspended, was made an accused today, after having had an alleged "disagreement with a police officer", in the courtroom, with the news report for the summary judgment made public before the sentence was read. .
Several Angolan and international human rights organizations criticized the police conduct, calling for the release of the activists.
