Luanda - The Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), Hélder Pitta Groz, on Friday in Luanda highlighted that the effort and commitment of the Angolan Justice in combating economic and financial crime produced results that deserved international recognition.
He mentioned that the national asset recovery action, coordinated by the PGR, was subject of distinction, through the attribution of the 'Excellence Award', from the Network of Asset Recovery Agencies of Southern Africa (ARINSA) and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The head of the Public Magisterium was speaking at the opening of the Judicial Year 2024, whose act was presided over by the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, under the motto “For the achievement of financial autonomy and modernization of judicial activity”.
According to the prosecutor, the achievements that led to this recognition were only achievable thanks to the institutional support provided, which, although far from ideal, was enough to give life to the hard work, strong motivation and enormous sense of State of everyone who wore the shirt of combating corruption, in general, and asset recovery, in particular.
With more resources, he stressed, more can be achieved, this being the only path with a guarantee of success for this endeavor, where there is still much to be done.
In this sense, he added, “providing resources for the bodies that intervene in the administration of Justice remains a necessity among us, in line with international guidelines and, like other legal systems, creating autonomous mechanisms of material and financial support for the bodies that directly materialize the fight corruption and operate asset recovery”.
According to the prosecutor, placing financial means and equipment at the service of Justice should not be seen as an expense, but perceived as an investment necessary to consolidate the rule of law.
“The Angolan Justice is responsible for the arduous mission of ensuring the stability of the socio-economic system, regardless of any social and/or political phenomena, internal or international, and the Attorney General's Office is responsible for safeguarding the Rule of Law through permanent and comprehensive supervision of legality”, he stated.
As part of strengthening the institution's working capacity, it announced, shortly, the appointment of 180 auditors, who should join the group of Public Prosecutor's Office Magistrates, currently made up of 632 prosecutors, with women representing around 41%, with an increasing trend.
He also spoke of the solidity of the bodies that make up the State's judicial power and the ability to execute their constitutional duties.
He reiterated the commitment and commitment of the PGR in carrying out its duties, contributing to an increasingly strong modernization of the Angolan Justice and recognized the efforts of members of the judiciary, the Law, Police bodies, Prison Services, as well as court officials and other judicial servants, to carry out their respective missions in the previous judicial year.
Results of the fight against corruption
Data from the Attorney General's Office, within the scope of the Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Combat of Corruption, which was in force from 2018 to 2022, indicate the initiation of 2,521 criminal cases, of which 464 were sent to court, resulting in 20 convictions and 84 filings.
According to the results, within the framework of these processes, 25. 046,341,787, 32 (twenty-five billion, forty-six million, three hundred and forty-one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven kwanzas and thirty-two cents) and 14,088,102.00 (Fourteen million, eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand, one hundred and two dollars), as well as 800,000,000.00 (eight hundred million euros).
Regarding asset recovery, in this same period, the Angolan State, through the PGR's National Asset Recovery Service, recovered, in cash, real estate and movable assets a global value of 5,329,007,842.83 (five billion, three hundred and twenty-nine million, seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-two dollars and eighty-two cents).
Still in this area, various assets were seized, in Angola and abroad, valued at 12,930,788,169.01 (twelve billion, nine hundred and thirty million, seven hundred and eighty-eight thousand, one hundred and sixty-nine dollars and one cent). VC/SC/DOJ
