Isabel dos Santos. Image: Nuno Coimbra
A year after Angolan authorities cracked down on her multibillion-dollar business empire, Africa’s once-richest woman is watching it crumble.
From self-imposed exile in Dubai, Isabel dos Santos has been fighting a legal battle against Angola’s government as court orders roil her companies. In Luanda, shelves at the Candando supermarket stores are more than half empty. A beer factory south of the capital is running at 30% of its production capacity. Operations at the country’s biggest cement maker have also slowed.
All of the businesses are controlled by Dos Santos, who Angolan prosecutors accuse of causing more than US$5-billion of losses to the southwest African nation’s economy during her father’s 38-year rule. He stepped down in 2017, making way for longtime ally Joao Lourenco. Within months, Lourenco turned on the family, firing Isabel as chairwoman of state oil company Sonangol. Two years later, authorities froze her domestic a
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WAILUKU A woman who reportedly hid the gun when her husband was arrested in connection with a shooting near the closed Safeway store in Kahului has been placed on four years’ probation. A case is pending against her husband, Manuel Nunes Jr., 37, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges.
Blossom Edayan Nunes, 35, was given credit for 22 days she spent in jail.
“She just acted out of spontaneity, loyalty to her husband,” said her attorney, Jon Apo. “She stands here today regretful of her actions, taking responsibility for that.”
In sentencing Edayan Nunes on Feb. 3, 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo followed a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution.
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