Suspect named in Dos Santos investigation found dead
Suspect named in Dos Santos investigation found dead
Angola's fraud investigation took a shocking turn on Thursday after authorities said they could issue an international arrest warrant for billionaire Isabel dos Santos, and in Lisbon a suspect in the probe was found dead in what a police source said appears to be a suicide.
David Doyle reports.
Angola could issue an international arrest warrant for billionaire former first daughter Isabel dos Santos, the country's chief prosecutor was quoted as saying on Thursday (January 23), if she does not cooperate with a fraud investigation in which she has been named a suspect.
That's over alleged mismanagement and misappropriation of funds while she was chairwoman of state oil firm Sonangol.
On Wednesday (January 22), just after media reports that she had been named as a suspect, Portuguese bank Eurobic said she was selling her 42.5% stake in the company.
Another suspect in the probe was Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, director of private banking at the small lender and the manager of Sonangol's account.
On Thursday he was found dead at his home in Lisbon; a police source said quote "everything points to suicide".
Dos Santos, who led Sonangol in 2016 and 2017, amassed her fortune during her father Jose Eduardo dos Santo's decades-long presidency.
But the end of last year Angolan authorities froze dos Santos's assets following allegations by prosecutors that she and her husband had steered payments of more than $1 billion from state companies to firms in which they held stakes.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGOLAN BUSINESSWOMAN AND AFRICA'S RICHEST WOMAN, ISABEL DOS SANTOS, SAYING: "All the allegations are are false." Dos Santos could not immediately be reached for comment but she has previously denied any wrongdoing - saying Angolan authorities are trying to weaken her father's influence and distract from economic failures.
