Angola AGT Corruption Investigation: PGR Stalls Probe Into Kz 4.4 Billion Fraud

• A criminal investigation into over 4.4 billion kwanzas in alleged corruption at Angola's General Tax Administration (AGT) remains stalled at the Attorney General's Office.
• Individuals implicated in the AGT allegations, including José Vieira Nuno Leiria and Bráulio Assis, have received promotions within the state hierarchy.
• Carla Trindade Martins, a Portuguese national, allegedly manipulated a public tender for her husband's company, In Pressionante Kianda, which secured a 1 billion kwanza contract.
• The wife of the then-AGT chairman, Elisa Leiria, was employed by a company linked to Kianda, raising significant conflict of interest concerns.
• A formal complaint about these dealings sent to the Inspectorate General of State Administration was reportedly routed directly to Carla Trindade Martins.

This incident epitomizes a perceived lack of institutional integrity, where a formal complaint was effectively delivered to one of the individuals it implicated.

A significant criminal investigation into transactions exceeding 4.4 billion kwanzas within Angola's General Tax Administration (AGT) has reportedly been left unaddressed by the Attorney General's Office (PGR). This probe, central to the Angola AGT corruption investigation, concerns alleged financial improprieties that have seemingly been set aside, despite detailed reporting by Maka Angola. The situation is further complicated by the continued ascent of individuals implicated in these complaints within the Angolan state apparatus.

Notably, President João Lourenço elevated José Vieira Nuno Leiria to the position of Secretary of State for Tax Affairs. Following this, Finance Minister Vera Daves de Sousa appointed Bráulio Assis as Leiria's chief of staff. These appointments have drawn scrutiny, given the ongoing allegations and the apparent lack of progress in the Attorney General's Office Angola investigation into the AGT's dealings. The promotion of figures connected to the allegations raises serious questions about accountability within the government.

At the heart of the Angola public procurement fraud allegations is the involvement of Carla Marisa Castelo Trindade Martins, a Portuguese national, in a tender process that ultimately benefited her husband's company, In Pressionante Kianda. Maka Angola's corruption report detailed how Ms. Trindade Martins allegedly gained advance access to tender documents, actively sought and secured modifications to the requirements, and even assisted in formulating a response to a challenge from a competing bidder. This direct involvement in shaping the tender process for a company linked to her family raises profound concerns about fair competition and conflicts of interest.

Further compounding these concerns, Bráulio Assis, who later became chief of staff to the Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, chaired the committee responsible for evaluating Kianda's bid. The initial contract, signed in April 2024, was valued at one billion kwanzas plus VAT. The intricate web of connections extends to Elisa Leiria, wife of the then-AGT chairman and a senior tax officer, who was informed by Carla Trindade Martins on June 27, 2023, that her employment with In Pressionante 2Win and registration with Portugal's social security system had been finalized. At this point, Kianda had already secured a 140 million kwanza contract from AGT. In Pressionante 2Win, a shareholder in Kianda, had Mário Martins and Maria Filipa Quadros as its shareholders, with Quadros also serving as a co-manager of the Angolan company and a co-signatory to its contracts with AGT. Elisa Leiria, who was on extended leave in Lisbon, was subsequently reassigned by Vera Daves in July 2024 to the Public Finance Information and Communication Technology Service, further highlighting the intertwined relationships.

The current administration has faced criticism for its handling of these serious allegations, particularly given President Lourenço's prior public commitments to combating corruption. Previous warnings, including an article in April 2022 cautioning against using the anti-corruption fight to create a "new class of predators," and a September 2022 critique of selecting officials based on "proximity" rather than merit, appear to have gone unheeded. A letter sent to the President on May 24, 2024, also highlighted concerns regarding a €323.5 million simplified procurement for 600 buses and preferential treatment for private intermediaries, underscoring a pattern of procurement issues.

The official response to these specific AGT dealings has also been problematic. A complaint detailing these transactions was dispatched to the Inspectorate General of State Administration (IGAE) on September 2, 2024. Astonishingly, published correspondence reveals that this complaint traversed official channels from Minister Vera Daves to José Vieira Nuno Leiria, ultimately reaching Carla Trindade Martins herself, who then shared it on September 7. This incident epitomizes a perceived lack of institutional integrity, where a formal complaint was effectively delivered to one of the individuals it implicated. Subsequently, Salvador Pascoal filed a criminal complaint on October 17, 2024, identified as case No. 4889/025-F, under the supervision of Luís Mário Quilulo, indicating that the matter has at least formally entered the legal system, though the initial Attorney General's Office Angola investigation remains stalled.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising on Angolan public procurement or tax matters should note the systemic corruption allegations within the General Tax Administration (AGT) and the apparent lack of accountability from the Attorney General's Office (PGR). This indicates significant risks related to fair competition, conflicts of interest, and potential illicit enrichment, necessitating enhanced due diligence on local partners and government officials, and robust internal anti-corruption controls for businesses operating in Angola.

Source: Original reporting via Maka Angola.