The President of Luanda's District Court, Paulino Gaspar Cândido, has been suspended by the Angolan Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) following allegations of irregularities in judicial processes. According to information published by Club-K, the suspension relates to alleged improprieties in habeas corpus cases and the unblocking of funds belonging to the company RADAY – Comércio e Serviços, Lda. An investigation is underway into an alleged network of magistrates who may have facilitated the release of defendants in exchange for illicit payments.
The allegations involve Judge Joaquim Fernando Salombongo, who is said to have made a decision to unblock RADAY's accounts while the company's owner, António Filipe Negrão Barros, was in detention. Approximately 4.98 billion kwanzas were frozen in a RADAY account at Banco de Comércio e Indústria (BCI). Club-K reports that Barros was pressured to agree to 20% of the funds being allocated to the group involved in the alleged scheme. The account was blocked in May 2025 after RADAY received the funds through a financial intermediation contract.
The BCI reported the transaction to the authorities, and the account was made unavailable, leading to Barros' detention. Following his release, Barros filed a complaint with the President of the Supreme Court, Norberto Sodré João. A subsequent analysis reportedly showed that most of the funds had already been transferred, leaving around 500 million kwanzas. The Supreme Court's review of the case is ongoing.
On May 19, 2026, the Luanda District Court, under Cândido's presidency, ruled to unblock RADAY's account at BCI as part of case no. 48674/2935/25-LDA. The court reportedly found no formal accusation, judicial validation of the seizure, or sufficient grounds to justify maintaining the block. The decision cited the right to private property, presumption of innocence, and effective judicial protection, instructing BCI to lift the measure and restore fund transfer capabilities.
Club-K claims that the alleged practices involve criminal cases where habeas corpus presentations were used to facilitate the release of defendants in exchange for payments. The publication also links Joaquim Salombongo to a past network of sentence trafficking allegedly associated with former Supreme Court President Joel Leonardo. This claim is presented by the source and does not constitute a judicial confirmation of facts.
Paulino Gaspar Cândido was appointed President of Luanda's District Court in February 2026. Club-K states that the ongoing investigation also examines the actions of the court presidency and draws parallels with the previous president, João Bessa, who was also removed due to alleged irregularities. The CSMJ's decision to suspend Cândido reflects concerns over the integrity of judicial processes in Angola.
The suspension of Judge Paulino Gaspar Cândido and the investigation into alleged irregularities highlight the challenges facing Angola's judiciary in maintaining public trust and ensuring the rule of law. The case has sparked concerns about corruption and the potential for judicial misconduct. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what further actions will be taken to address these allegations and restore confidence in the country's judicial system.
Key points
- The Angolan Superior Council of the Judiciary has suspended Judge Paulino Gaspar Cândido amid allegations of irregularities in judicial processes.
- The investigation involves an alleged network of magistrates who may have facilitated the release of defendants in exchange for illicit payments.
- The case has raised concerns about corruption and judicial misconduct in Angola's judiciary.
