Lubango - The former director of the Planning and Statistics Office (GEPE) of the provincial government of Huíla, from 2012 to 2018, António Ngongo, began his trial Tuesday, in the city of Lubango.
This is a case that dates back to 2019, the year in which he was arrested, in April, and was held in preventive detention in the district of Lubango for more than a year, suspected of embezzlement and criminal association, for alleged embezzlement of Akz 480 million (US$ 527.866) from the treasury.
The process to which businesspeople and other former leaders are involved, as declarants, defendants and witnesses, had a trial scheduled for May 2021, but due to his and the lawyer's absence, it was postponed.
At the time, the then judge of the case, Geraldo Ukuma, requested, by letter, the district court of Luanda, the city where the defendant had moved to, to investigate the supposed less good health situation in which he allegedly found himself.
This is the sixth manager of João Marcelino Tyipinge's consulate who faces legal action. The others are the former director of education, Américo Chicote, the director of Finance, Sousa Dala, from the Institutional Communication and Press office, Jaime Lombe, the then general secretary António Ndaindondyo (now deceased) and the former administrator of Chicomba, Lúcia Francisca, they have all served prison sentences.
Marcelino Tyipinge himself also has a criminal case underway at the Supreme Court, given that at the time of the events he enjoyed special jurisdiction, as he held the position of governor. MS/CF/DOJ
