The Supreme Court sentenced, today, in Luanda, the former provincial governor of Lunda-Sul, Ernesto Fernando Kiteculo, to a single sentence of five years and one month in prison, for the crime of embezzlement. The presiding judge of the case, Daniel Modesto, announced that in addition to the five years and one month, the defendant was ordered to pay a fine of 250 million 878 thousand and 650 kwanzas to the State, for property damage, as well as a court fee of 500 thousand kwanzas.
The former governor was accused of having appropriated 180 million kwanzas, in violation of the rules for implementing the General State Budget (OGE), assigned to the Government of the Province of Lunda-Sul in the period 2012–2017, when he held the position of governor.
The amount would have resulted from a payment made to the company “Chimark”, supposedly for the purchase of vehicles for the provincial government, during his mandate.
The court proved, based on the evidence produced at the trial hearing, the accusation that Ernesto Kiteculo signed and approved fictitious contracts between the Government of the Province of Lunda-Sul and several companies, without the involvement of the remaining members of the management of the Provincial government.
However, the defendant’s defense, led by lawyer Amaral Gourgel, told the press that he will appeal the sentence in the coming days as he finds it unfair and inappropriate.
