The case was denounced by journalist and activist Rafael Marques e Morais, on the Maka Angola portal, under the title "Court of Auditors is the piggy bank of Exalgina Gamboa" and gives an account of the judge's expenses, borne by the public purse and which amount to several million of dollars.
It reveals that the Government acquired, in 2020, a house worth US$3.5 million for Exalgina Gamboa in a luxury condominium, while the judge later spent half a million dollars on its rehabilitation.
The Court of Auditors' Private Vault then paid around US$4 million for the furnishing of the residence, with furniture purchased from two companies.
Lusa sought to find out from the Court of Auditors the limit of expenses and whether they should be previously authorized, but it was only one day after the questions had been asked, and after further insistence, that the institution's communication office sent a note about the subject, identical to the answer given to Maka Angola.
The note is limited to informing that the expenses incurred by the Court are included in the annual reports approved by the plenary and that the capital expenses are carried out based on the rights and privileges of the magistrates, provided for in Law No. April, Statute of Judicial Magistrates and the Public Ministry.
According to the law, magistrates are entitled to various privileges, including entry and free transit in various places with restricted access, use and possession of a weapon, special protection of their person and property, State house or at State expense properly furnished, State vehicle for personal use and payment for telephone, water and electricity.
They are also entitled to 100 percent of the rent if they do not occupy a state house, diplomatic passport, as well as domestic staff including drivers, cooks and laundresses. The diploma is silent on expenditure limits.
According to the organic law of the Court of Auditors (Law n.º5/96), consulted by Lusa, this entity has a private safe, endowed with administrative and financial autonomy, managed by an administrative council with at least three elements, to by the plenary of the Court and in whose composition the director of technical services and the director of administrative services participate.
According to the legislation, in addition to the payment of co-payments, other expenses that cannot be borne by the State Budget, including expenses resulting from the payment of subsidies, allowances or any other remuneration of judges or support service staff, arising from the training of judges and support service personnel, resulting from the acquisition of publications or the edition of books or magazines, derived from carrying out studies, audits, expert reports and other work ordered by the Court.
The purchase of furniture is not included in the charges for the private safe.
Lusa sought to find out from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) if they received complaints regarding the sumptuous expenses of Exalgina Gamboa or if they are investigating possible illicit expenses, with no response so far.
At the beginning of the month, Exalgina Gamboa had already been the subject of news, initially broadcast by Africa Monitor and later by Correio Angolense, involving the freezing of accounts of a son of hers, in Portugal, supposedly constituted with values from the account of the Court of Auditors. domiciled in the Yetu bank.
At the time, the PGR reacted, denying having been notified by the Portuguese authorities about alleged bank transfers from the accounts of the Court of Auditors to a private account domiciled in a bank in Portugal.
The Court of Auditors has not ruled on this case.
