Rédaction Africa Links 24 with ANGONOTÍCIAS
Published on 2024-03-04 14:01:55
The investigation process against the President of the Supreme Court (TS), Joel Leonardo, continues, one year later, closed “under lock and key” at the Attorney General’s Office (PGR).
The Attorney General, Hélder Pitta Groz, confirmed last Friday, 01, to the press, the progress of the process of the former president of the Court of Auditors, Exalgina Gambôa, which he said is almost concluded, but refused to talk about the process involving the TS president.
When directly questioned by Novo Jornal, at the opening of the 2024 judicial year, which marks the restart of work in all courts in the country this Monday, 04, Hélder Pitta Groz preferred not to answer the question, remaining silent, but mentioned that the process of the former president of the Court of Auditors will be concluded soon.
This silence has been repeated whenever the subject is brought up to the PGR’s communication and press office. In late 2022, the president of the Supreme Court, Joel Leonardo, started to be strongly accused of being involved in acts of corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement of the institution, leading the PGR to carry out diligences at the headquarters of the supreme court in March 2023.
In April of last year, the Attorney General, Hélder Pitta Groz, said that the investigation process involving the president of the Supreme Court is proceeding normally and under judicial secrecy.
At that time, Hélder Pitta Groz stated that the PGR would soon make a statement on the matter, which never happened.
When questioned last Friday about the process, Hélder Pitta Groz preferred not to answer the question. It is worth mentioning that in March of last year, the council judges of the Supreme Court met under one of the institution’s organic statutes and demanded explanations from the president regarding the corruption scandal.
However, Joel Leonardo denied all the allegations published on social media and stated, before his peers, in the plenary session, that he has the confidence of President João Lourenço. A preliminary report obtained by Novo Jornal, produced by experts from the PGR responsible for the investigation opened against the president of the Supreme Court, Joel Leonardo, indicates that there were several “irregular” money transfers from the TS account at BCI, not only to the head of the judicial entity, but also to other individuals in this institution.
The report reflecting the scope of the investigation by PGR experts is categorical regarding the council judges of the TS, in addition to their president, involved in alleged criminal acts. Joel Leonardo took office as president of the TS in October 2019, appointed by the President, following the vacancy of the position after the resignation of the then president Rui Ferreira, in compliance with constitutional criteria.
Read the original article (Portuguese) on Angonoticias
