The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirms that Helder Beta Groz was recently in Dubai

Peta Groz, the Angolan public prosecutor, was supposed to be in Dubai recently to try and arrest the Angolan businesswoman, who has been targeted by Interpol in a ‘Red Alert’.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) of Angola has referred the responsibilities related to the possible arrest of businesswoman Isabel dos Santos to INTERPOL and the UAE, confirming that Helder Pita Groz was in Dubai within the scope of judicial cooperation.

“If it is true that she lives in Dubai, then this is a matter for the United Arab Emirates and Interpol,” said Alvaro Joao, spokesperson for the Angolan office PGR, Llosa, when asked about the news that the prosecutor was in Dubai recently. Attempt to arrest the Angolan businesswoman who was targeted in a “red alert” by Interpol.

A “Red Notice” is a request from a country – in this case Angola – to Interpol member countries to locate and temporarily detain a person with a view to extraditing, surrendering, or similar legal action. “States are sovereign, and they may or may not comply, according to the interests at stake. But the topic is not focused on Isabel dos Santos [alvo de vários processos judiciais]but in the various operations associated with the United Arab Emirates, ” stressed Alvaro Joao.

Asked if Angola had initiated any process to extradite Isabel dos Santos, the same official replied that “it is not necessary”, since Interpol is responsible for carrying out the arrest.

He added, “The extradition request does not begin until after the arrest of the concerned person.” According to the PGR spokesperson, Pitta Gróz has traveled to many countries to strengthen cooperation with similar institutions, within the scope of existing bilateral and multilateral agreements, including Portugal, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and others.

About three weeks ago, he was in the UAE dealing with current issues of mutual interest, since the Office of the Attorney General is the central authority for international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. He declared that many topics had been touched upon, without specifically touching on issues closely linked to the alleged extradition of Isabel dos Santos.

Álvaro Joao also said that although there is no extradition agreement between the two countries, the principle of reciprocity is in effect under the provisions of international law: “If the requesting country does not come forward with reasonable grounds, tomorrow its requests will not come forward on an equal footing that will be served by this country.”

The Angolan justice system has resorted on several occasions to the cooperation of the Portuguese authorities, and those of other countries, due to the judicial procedures that are being processed in Angola and at the international level, the most applied of which is the one targeting Isabel dos Santos, her daughter. Former Angolan President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Numerous shares in the companies and bank accounts of the Angolan businesswoman have been frozen or seized, in Angola, Portugal and in other jurisdictions where she is subject to legal action.

Isabel dos Santos has been the target of corruption allegations for years, including allegations that the businesswoman and her husband, Sindica Dokolo, who died in October 2020, embezzled nearly $1 billion in public funds from companies in which they acquired stakes. Presidency, including the oil giant Sonangol. The daughter of the former Angolan president, who died in July last year, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.