The president of the General Tax Administration (AGT) and other senior officials of the Angolan tax authority will testify as declarants on Tuesday in connection with the “AGT case,” which involves a €100 million fraud.
This will be the second session of the preliminary hearing in the case known as the AGT case, in which 38 defendants, including six companies, are accused of defrauding the State of more than 100 billion kwanzas (around €100 million).
The court may then uphold the charges brought by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, drop some of the alleged crimes (non-indictment), or open other proceedings and summon additional defendants.
According to a press release from the Superior Council of the Judiciary, those to be heard as declarants in this session include the National Director of the Treasury, the Director of the Public Debt Unit, and the president and other board members of the General Tax Administration.
The preliminary hearing was requested by 14 of the defendants who contested certain elements of the indictment and is being held behind closed doors.
At the first session, held last week, the defense complained about the lack of proper conditions at the Viana District Court.
Most of the defendants are senior staff of the General Tax Administration (AGT), an agency under Angola’s Ministry of Finance, who were arrested earlier this year for alleged involvement in a fraudulent VAT refund scheme.
In February, Angola’s Minister of Finance, Vera Daves de Sousa, apologized to taxpayers and citizens for the harmful acts committed by public officials, assuring that those responsible would be held accountable and that the Government remains “relentless” in its fight against corruption.
The preliminary hearing is an optional stage, falling between indictment and arraignment, legally granted to the defendant.
Lusa, 22/09/2025
