In addition to generals Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento "Dino" and Hélder Vieira Dias "Kopelipa", the lawyer Fernando Gomes dos Santos and representatives of the companies China International Fund Angola, Plansmart International Limited and Utter Right International Limited sit in the dock.
Benja Satula, who represents the Chinese side in this case, said that the postponement of the trial was expected.
"The court did what it was supposed to do, in fact, (...) the counselor reporting the case understood that an error had been made, an important formality had been overlooked and so did not open the hearing", having called for the trial for March 10, 2025.
At issue is the 15-day deadline for the notice of the hearing, which was not met, as well as the reproduction of essential parts of the process, such as accusation and statement, in the notice of the parties.
"For this reason, the Court was wise not to open the hearing and set a new date (...). It gives more time to carry out a fair process", said the lawyer, highlighting that, from now on, the process can be consulted.
"Only in this way can we say that the trial was a fair and equitable trial, where the parties had equal opportunity (...). the Court went very well due to the fact that it was rescheduled and it gives us the possibility here to really prepare for the trial", he highlighted.
Judge Anabela Valente said this Tuesday in the hearing room of the Supreme Court that this is a complex process, with more than 2000 pages and 24 volumes and that six to seven documents and requests are received daily, which are difficult to respond to in a timely manner.
"We also understand that it is [a process] complex, there are many things that need to be clarified and only by having contact with the process, with the evidence that is in the process, can we make a better defense", said the lawyer, highlighting that the defense has not yet had access to the process, which has been protected by judicial secrecy.
The two generals, former strongmen of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, sitting in the dock this Tuesday, and other defendants, are accused of the crimes of influence peddling and money laundering, among others, within the scope of a process that also involves the Angolan branch of China International Fund.
The former head of the Angolan secret services Manuel Hélder Vieira Dias "Kopelipa" is accused of crimes of embezzlement, fraud by fraud, document forgery, criminal association, influence peddling, abuse of power and money laundering, in a total of seven crimes .
The former head of communications services Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento "Dino", as well as lawyer Fernando Gomes dos Santos and You Hai Ming, from China Internacional Fund, will be held responsible for the crimes of embezzlement by defrauding, document forgery, criminal association, trafficking in influence and money laundering.
The case also involves the companies China International Fund Angola, Plansmart International Limited and Utter Right International Limited, which have been accused of influence peddling, money laundering, embezzlement by defrauding and document forgery, but will only be responsible for the first two crimes, as that, at the time of the events, Angolan law did not provide for the criminalization of the last two legal types.
The companies were allegedly used by the defendants to set up a scheme that harmed the State in millions of dollars, involving a financing agreement between Angola and China to support national reconstruction, after the civil war that ended in 2002.
