Luanda - The District Court of Luanda, which is judging the "Lussaty case," on Wednesday rejected the request to argue that the detention of Pedro Lussaty and other defendants in the case was illegal.
The judge in charge of the case, Andrade da Silva, was responding to the preliminary questions presented by the defence representatives of the 48 defendants in the case of embezzlement of large sums of money.
According to the court, the detention of the defendants took place in compliance with the stipulations of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola and the Law.
The court also read the indictment from the Public Prosecutor's Office, as well as the defence's objection.
The court also ruled on the application to request the presence of the former finance ministers, between 2008 and 2021, noting that they may be called upon in the phase of seeking the material truth.
Regarding the competence of the court to judge this case, it clarified that according to the law, crimes committed in the common forum must be judged by a common court.
Position of the Prosecuting Council
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office considers it unnecessary for the finance ministers between 2008 and 2021 to appear in this trial.
Regarding the defendants' blocked bank accounts, it has requested the respective banks to send the defendants' bank statements.
For the defendants whose salaries are not being processed, he has directed them to file a complaint with their employers to regularise the situation.
