Judge Robert Bright of a British commercial court decided on Wednesday to freeze about 580 million pounds (670 million euros) controlled by Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos in a case brought against Unitel International Holdings.
“I see no obvious basis on which Isabel dos Santos’ assets should be protected in this jurisdiction; there appears to be a clear argument in favor of a global freeze on her assets.”argued Judge Robert Bright in the ruling published by the British Supreme Court on Wednesday.
At issue is the case brought by Unitel, now controlled by the Angolan state, against Unitel International Holdings BV, based in the Netherlands, and against businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, who asked for the freezing of 580 million pounds, the equivalent of 670 million euros . at this Wednesday’s exchange rate.
In the ruling, the judge states that it is “highly desirable that Isabel dos Santos be required to declare her assets, in circumstances where Unitel does not know what assets it may have in its possession and is not covered by seizure orders or freezes. already in force”.
Therefore he concludes, does not accept “the principle that the other asset freezing orders mean that it is not fair or expedient for this court to make another order”as defended by the businesswoman, who says she is the victim of an “oppressive campaign”.
The London court’s ruling follows a series of lawsuits filed by the Angolan state and by public and private companies against the businesswoman since João Lourenço took over as Angola’s president in 2017. This also involved other members of José’s family, Eduardo dos Santos. Angola for almost 40 years.
In December last year, the Angolan Supreme Court (TS) ordered the preventive seizure of the assets of businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, worth one billion dollars. (approximately 930 billion euros), namely 100% of the companies Unitel T+, in Cape Verde, and Unitel STP SARL, in São Tomé and Príncipe, of which the daughter of the former President of Angola José Eduardo dos Santos was the effective beneficiary.
According to the order, among other allegations, Isabel dos Santos “also transferred amounts from Unitel SA to the entity Unitel International Holdings BV, a company based in the Netherlands, incorporated on 05/04/2012 and controlled by Isabel dos Santos herself, the sole effective beneficiary”.
In fact, between May 8, 2012 and August 28, 2013, the note states, seven financing contracts were signed between Unitel SA and Unitel International Holdings BV, with the former paying the latter a total of €322,979,711.00 and US$43,000,000.00 borrowed. that the beneficiary company is “obligated to repay within ten years”.
Such loans, “in which Isabel dos Santos signed the above-mentioned financing contracts, in the simultaneous capacity of legal representative of both companies”, enabled Unitel International Holdings BV to acquire shares or create companies in the telecommunications sector in Portugal, Cape Verde (Unitel T+ ) and São Tomé and Príncipe (Unitel STP, SARL),” the order concludes.
Source: DN
