Luanda, Jan. 31, 2025 (Lusa) - The Angolan ministry of finance announced on Friday that it will order "an audit of the systems, processes and procedures in use at the General Tax Administration (AGT)," as part of the scandal over fraudulent VAT refunds.
"Without prejudice to the fact that the facts detected do not jeopardise the normal functioning of the General Tax Administration, the ministry of finance will order an audit of the systems, processes and procedures in use at the AGT," reads a note sent to Lusa, which states that "full cooperation will be provided to the investigative and law enforcement bodies".
At issue is the investigation into a scheme of fraudulent refunds of Value Added Tax (VAT), which is said to have damaged the public purse by at least seven billion kwanzas (€7.3 million) involving senior tax administration officials, three of whom have been detained, it was announced this morning.
"As part of the ongoing proceedings related to irregularities identified in the AGT's tax payment system, thus guiding and reaffirming this ministerial department's commitment to good governance, transparency and legality, we guarantee full collaboration with the investigative and law enforcement bodies for the complete clarification of the facts and the accountability of any offenders," the statement said, in which it was guaranteed that the functioning of the tax office system had not been affected.
The statement from the tax authorities comes on the same day that the detention of three more tax officials was announced.
According to the Criminal Investigation Service ( SIC ), the director for VAT, strategic planning and information technologies, the director of cadastre and collection and the head of the VAT refund department were detained on Thursday.
They are accused of the offences of illegitimate access to an information system, computer fraud, criminal association and embezzlement, "embodied in strong evidence of their involvement in the fraudulent scheme of payments by compensation, in relation to VAT refunds", says the SIC in a press release issued this morning.
The SIC emphasises that the scheme was constructed by Angolan tax officials from different areas and functions, who took advantage of these privileges to carry out "various fraudulent deals".
The detainees will be brought before the public prosecutor's office, while other enquiries continue, SIC adds.
The investigation into these irregularities had previously led to the detention of two officials, with other suspects fleeing to Portugal and other countries.
MBA/AYLS // AYLS
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