Arrested Angolan general could lose Windhoek house
The millionaire army general cannot explain his wealth, which includes N$200 million in cash and a house in a posh Windhoek suburb he bought at the age of 32.
MATHIAS HAUFIKU and JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Millionaire Angolan army general Pedro Lussati, who owns property in Windhoek, is among high-ranking officials against whom Angolan prosecuting authorities have lodged money laundering and other charges.
Official documents from the Namibian deeds office indicate that Lussati, now aged 43, bought the 1 000 square metre property in the leafy Suiderhof suburb for N$1.2 million on 28 May 2010 from a certain Elia Marisa De Sousa. He was 32 at the time.
It is unclear whether Angolan authorities are eyeing the Windhoek property as part of the bid to repossess Lussati’s suspicious wealth.
Last week, the attorney general's office in Angola announced the seizure of US$10 million, 700 000 euros, 800 million kwanzas, 45 luxury apartments in Luanda, five apartments in Lisbon and 15 top-of-the-range vehicles.
There are strong suspicions by Angolan authorities that Lussati did not raise his fortune by operating alone and that the values are not consistent with his known income.
Bags of money
Lussati, who was in charge of finance in the music band of the security affairs office to the Angolan president, was detained last week when he tried to leave the country with suitcases containing several millions.
Last week, an Angolan media outlet, Novo Jornal, reported that Lussati had been arrested while carrying two suitcases loaded with US$10 million (the equivalent of N$137 million) and four million euros (equivalent to N$68 million) and that he “did not justify the possession and allegedly tried to withdraw money from the land”.
The Angolan attorney general’s office announced the detention of Angolan armed forces officers pertaining to the security affairs' office of that country’s president.
Prior to Lussati’s detention, the attorney general’s office had announced that it is in the process of investigating the case involving several officers of different ranks placed in the Angolan presidency - Lussati included - under suspicion of crimes of embezzlement and, among other things, criminal association.
African leaders and their cronies have for years been accused of building personal wealth through embezzlement, money-laundering and the misuse of public funds.
- Additional reporting by Novo Jornal
WINDHOEK
Millionaire Angolan army general Pedro Lussati, who owns property in Windhoek, is among high-ranking officials against whom Angolan prosecuting authorities have lodged money laundering and other charges.
Official documents from the Namibian deeds office indicate that Lussati, now aged 43, bought the 1 000 square metre property in the leafy Suiderhof suburb for N$1.2 million on 28 May 2010 from a certain Elia Marisa De Sousa. He was 32 at the time.
It is unclear whether Angolan authorities are eyeing the Windhoek property as part of the bid to repossess Lussati’s suspicious wealth.
Last week, the attorney general's office in Angola announced the seizure of US$10 million, 700 000 euros, 800 million kwanzas, 45 luxury apartments in Luanda, five apartments in Lisbon and 15 top-of-the-range vehicles.
There are strong suspicions by Angolan authorities that Lussati did not raise his fortune by operating alone and that the values are not consistent with his known income.
Bags of money
Lussati, who was in charge of finance in the music band of the security affairs office to the Angolan president, was detained last week when he tried to leave the country with suitcases containing several millions.
Last week, an Angolan media outlet, Novo Jornal, reported that Lussati had been arrested while carrying two suitcases loaded with US$10 million (the equivalent of N$137 million) and four million euros (equivalent to N$68 million) and that he “did not justify the possession and allegedly tried to withdraw money from the land”.
The Angolan attorney general’s office announced the detention of Angolan armed forces officers pertaining to the security affairs' office of that country’s president.
Prior to Lussati’s detention, the attorney general’s office had announced that it is in the process of investigating the case involving several officers of different ranks placed in the Angolan presidency - Lussati included - under suspicion of crimes of embezzlement and, among other things, criminal association.
African leaders and their cronies have for years been accused of building personal wealth through embezzlement, money-laundering and the misuse of public funds.
- Additional reporting by Novo Jornal
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