Higino Carneiro, Minister of Public Works between 2002 and 2010 and former governor of the provinces of Luanda, Cuando Cubango and Kwanza Sul, member of the MPLA Political Bureau and deputy of this political force, is accused of crimes of embezzlement, nepotism, influence peddling, criminal association and money laundering
In addition to this case, the PGR has in hand two other cases concerning two other strong men of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, Generals Hélder Vieira Dias "Kopelipa" and Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento "Dino" for suspected corruption.
"We have been working on it, that of General Higino has already gone to court and in relation to the other processes we are working to conclude them as soon as possible," Pitta Gróz said in an interview with Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA).
The PGR stressed that court deadlines follow their own phases and that it is necessary to advance with sufficient evidence.
"In the criminal investigation we are working and only when we think that the process has enough evidence to send it to court, to be judged, then yes. We have to be careful that we only take cases to court with enough evidence for a successful trial. We can't send cases that may result in acquittal, so it's better not to send them and to file the case", he considered.
The same official also confirmed the extradition of Abel Cosme, former president of the collective urban transport company of Luanda (TCUL), news that had been advanced by the newspaper Público last week.
Abel Cosme detained in Portugal, will be extradited by the Supreme Court of Justice at the request of the Angolan justice, he confirmed: "We are waiting every moment for this to happen, this request was made by us".
Hélder Pitta Gróz also said that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) started a few days ago to hear senior figures from the Special Unit for Demining (Unidade Especial de Desminagem), which is part of the President of the Republic's Security House, in order to investigate allegations about the existence of "ghosts" in the payroll and dismissed any selectivity in the fight against corruption.
"Who were the people who were managing public assets over all these years?" he questioned, and then replied: "It is these people who have to be pursued, we cannot go looking for other people (...) and selectivity goes in this direction."
The head of the OPG pointed out that they have been pursuing all those who over the years have had the management of public assets, whether at the level of provinces or central state bodies and who have incurred in illicit practices, and that this will continue.
Hélder Pitta Gróz also spoke about the difficulties of justice in the fight against corruption and in the recovery of assets, due to the lack of means and funds to obtain specialized services or expertise, considering it a good measure that the OPG and the courts will receive a percentage of the recovered assets.
"It is an international practice that cooperating bodies should benefit from a percentage of the assets recovered and this is what the executive decided and, at this point, not only the OPG but also the courts will be able to benefit from this" (in this case, 10 percent), he stressed.
