Angola’s Constitutional Court has overturned a five-year sentence that had been handed to the son of former President José Eduardo dos Santos for fraud.
José Filomeno dos Santos was sentenced in 2020 for his role in the illegal transfer of $500m (£378m) from Angola’s Sovereign Fund to a private account in the UK.
He appealed against the verdict in 2022.
In a ruling published on Thursday, the Constitutional Court declared his conviction as "unconstitutional", because it breached "the principles of legality, adversarial proceedings, a fair and consistent judgement and the rights of the defence".
The former leader's son, also known as Zenu, was the head of Angola's Sovereign Wealth Fund from 2013 to 2018.
He was sentenced alongside the ex-governor of Angola's national bank and three others.
The transfer of the money was agreed in 2017, in the last few weeks before his father stood down as president - after 38 years.
José Eduardo dos Santos was president from 1979 until he resigned in 2017, to be replaced by the man he had handpicked for the job, his former defence minister Joao Lourenço.
Latest Stories
-
KATH to install seven new dialysis machines by end of November
3 mins -
Walewale: Police confiscate 37 bags of cocoa beans suspected of being smuggled out of Ghana
14 mins -
‘Expired’ Rice Scandal: FDA confirms rice was safe for consumption after rigorous lab tests
19 mins -
Many women have experienced intimate partner violence – Angela Dwamena Aboagye
40 mins -
Power challenges persist due to government’s mismanagement of revenues – Okudzeto Ablakwa
1 hour -
Jordan Ayew injury not as bad as feared – Leicester City boss
1 hour -
Stonebwoy heads to North America for UP & RUNNIN6 tour
2 hours -
FDA explains extension of best-before date for ‘expired’ rice
2 hours -
Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Mahama storm Akuapem North as NPP NDC slugs it out
2 hours -
Fatawu’s injury a big blow for us – Leicester City manager
2 hours -
No MC has influenced pop culture in 2024 more than me – Portfolio
2 hours -
Kpando NCCE holds dialogue for Parliamentary Candidates
2 hours -
Bawumia solicits support of CSOs to tackle ‘entrenched interests’ in corruption fight
2 hours -
I’m looking forward to working with CSOs, research institutions; they have a lot to offer – Bawumia
2 hours -
The former illegal miner who became valedictorian: Eliasu Yahaya Bansi’s KNUST journey
2 hours