Angola asks for legal aid over frozen Geneva funds
Angola has asked Switzerland for legal assistance concerning almost a billion francs frozen in Geneva and reportedly connected to Angolan-Portuguese businessman Carlos Manuel de São Vicente.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Português
pt
Angola pede cooperação judiciária para fundos congelados em Genebra
Last week the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) received Angolan Deputy Justice Minister Eduarda Rodrigues Neto for an interview with the lawyer overseeing the case, FOJ spokeswoman Ingrid Ryser said on Tuesday, confirming a report in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).
The FOJ received a request for judicial assistance from Angola in this matter on June 22, Ryser told the Keystone-SDA news agency. At the beginning of August the FOJ then asked the Angolan authorities to clarify the request.
“Naturally the Swiss authorities are prepared to assist the Angolan authorities within the framework of the applicable law on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters,” Ryser said.
More
More
Swiss investigating money laundering linked to Angolan funds
This content was published on
The attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against unknown persons on suspicion of money laundering, his office told financial news agency AWP on Thursday. The statement confirms information published on Wednesday in several Swiss papers. The criminal proceedings are linked to possible offences against the assets held by the Angolan National Bank and the Angolan…
According to the Angola Press Agency, Rodrigues Neto handed over a new request for judicial assistance to the Swiss authorities in Bern on Friday.
$900 million frozen
According to the NZZ, the case concerns Angolan-Portuguese businessman Carlos Manuel de São Vicente, who is being investigated by Geneva’s judicial authorities on suspicion of money laundering. The affair dates back to 2018 but only recently became known through a decision by the Geneva Criminal Court, published by the Swiss justice portal Gotham City.
Based on a report of suspected money laundering submitted by Banque Syz to the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland, the Geneva public prosecutor’s office ordered account freezes totalling CHF1.114 billion ($1.23 billion) at the end of 2018. Following a partial release, around $900 million remains frozen.
On July 9 the court rejected an appeal by Carlos Manuel de São Vicente to unblock the funds. What happens next depends largely on the response to the request for legal assistance.
This is not the first time the Swiss authorities have had to deal with dubious money connected to Angola. Previous instances have involved the Angolan Sovereign Wealth Fund and the Angolan National Bank; presidential daughter Isabel dos Santos, her brother Filomeno dos Santos and the Swiss-Angolan businessman Jean-Claude Bastos; and in earlier years Angolan officials with bank accounts in Switzerland.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Gold-digging: why some Swiss bury their wealth in the garden
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. Such assistance would inadmissibly lower the requirements for studying, it ruled.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
One in five Swiss children suffers psychological abuse at home
This content was published on
In Switzerland, one in five children suffers psychological violence, and one in three has witnessed psychological violence between parents, says the association Kinderschutz Schweiz.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Campaigners seek to reopen Angola inquiry
This content was published on
A spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to swissinfo.ch that the complaint had arrived by post on Wednesday. The basis for the complaint is new information contained in a report released on Tuesday by a British organisation, Corruption Watch UK, and Angolan anti-corruption group Mäos Livres. An earlier Swiss criminal investigation into the affair…
Quantum says Swiss prosecutors close Angola-related case
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General has closed an investigation into events surrounding the Zug-based asset manager Quantum Global and its founder.
This content was published on
On Monday, the foreign ministry announced Secretary of State Yves Rossier and his Angolan counterpart Carlos Alberto Fonseca had signed a corresponding agreement. The backdrop to the restitution are judicial proceedings in Geneva regarding alleged money laundering, which at the end of 2008 led to the confiscation of the assets now to be returned. According…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.