According to the lawyers, the bidding process, limited by prior qualification, for the transfer of the right to operate and manage eight hotel units of the IU and BINA chains, promoted by the State Institute of Asset and Shareholding Management (IGAPE), is "illegal."
"In essence, this bidding process is illegal and presents unacceptable flaws. It appears to be based on the criminal proceedings conducted in Angola against Mr. Carlos Manuel de São Vicente, which were considered by United Nations experts to violate his fundamental rights," the lawyers say.
In the statement, the lawyers for São Vicente, who was sentenced on March 24, 2022, to nine years in prison for embezzlement, tax fraud, and money laundering, state that the bidding process comes "after the failure, a year ago, of the electronic auction for the sale of the 39 hotels of the IU and BINA chains."
They point out that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention previously concluded that the arrest of Portuguese-Angolan businessman Carlos São Vicente was arbitrary and called for his immediate release and compensation.
Despite repeated calls from his lawyers for his release, the document states, "the Angolan authorities have waged a veritable campaign of defamation and lies against him, while plundering him and all the companies he founded," concluding that "this competition falls within this line of action."
"Mr. São Vicente reiterates that he has never committed any crime and that the origin of his assets is legitimate," the defense observes, emphasizing that the sole legal owner of all the hotels "is the company AAA Activos LDA, which has never been notified of any ruling."
"This is, therefore, a bona fide third party, not involved in any legal proceedings instituted by the Angolan authorities aimed at seizing or expropriating the properties in question," the lawyers conclude, calling for an "end to the relentless campaign" against the businessman.
IGAPE closed on Monday the limited competition by prior qualification for the transfer of the right to operate and manage the aforementioned hotels, located in the provinces of Zaire, Uíge, Lunda Sul, Bengo, and Namibe, via electronic auction.
In a statement, IGAPE noted that the application submission period was July 7th–28th, and that the competition, part of the Government's Privatization Program (ProPriv), aims to attract private operators with the technical and financial capacity for the redevelopment and sustainable management of these assets, previously allocated to the São Vicente estate.
