On the fourth day of interrogation, the former director of the extinct GRECIMA said he had handed over 30 properties to the Angolan state. Manuel Rabelais’ trial will resume on February 8 next year.
After five days of interrogation, the trial of the former director of the defunct Office for the Revitalization and Execution of Institutional Communication and Marketing Administration (GRECIMA) Manuel Rabelais was suspended until February 2021.
The sessions will resume on 8 February next year, with the resumption of interrogation by the former Minister of Social Communication, the Angolan press said.
Manuel Rabelais justified that the direct purchase of foreign currency from the National Bank of Angola (BNA) due to the financial crisis experienced at that time in the country and also of blackmail that he received from benefited companies.
Properties
During the trial for crimes of embezzlement, money laundering and violation of budget execution rules, this Wednesday (17.12), Manuel Rabelais stated that he voluntarily handed over about 30 properties to the State, under an agreement with the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (PGR). However, it did not help the way he acquired these properties.
“What happened was a negotiation with the National Asset Recovery Service regarding the nature of these services in which we reached an agreement,” he said before the Supreme Court of Angola.
At the same time, the former Minister of Social Communication stressed that the delivery of the properties is not an asset recovery agreement.
Manuel Rabelais also claimed that 15 million euros were transferred abroad, which benefited the EuroNews television channel and the consulting and communication companies RABLAN, Zilford and BANCLAN as payment for services provided to GRECIMA.
