REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA：
COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF THREE YOUTH

High school students; Afonso S. Muatchipuculo (22), António J. Fernando (18) and Justino H. Valente (21) were sentenced to seven months in prison by the Malange Provincial Court in Angola on 9 April after an unfair trial. The three were arrested on 4 April for allegedly throwing stones at the Vice-President’s convoy in Malange. However, they were not present at the scene of the protest when the stones were thrown.

António J. Fernando, a 9th grade student, and Justino H. Valente, a 12th grade student, had been selected by their school to greet the Vice-President on 4 April at the Malange City Pavilion. However, the two arrived late and could not enter the Pavilion, and therefore decided to leave.

Upon arriving at the Pavilion, the Vice-President was met by over 100 protestors demanding the removal of the Malange Provincial Governor. Some protestors allegedly threw stones at the Vice-President’s convoy.

Afonso S. Muatchipuculo, Antonio and Justino were arrested at the market, about 4km away from the Pavilion, while on their way home approximately an hour after the incident. The police chief claimed to have identified them as being among the protestors who threw stones at the Vice-President’s convoy by the colour of their shirts. The three students were not at the Pavilion at the time of the protest, but the police still used their shirts as evidence in court. They were tried and sentenced to seven months in prison on the same day on 9 April without a lawyer present. The prosecution did not produce any witnesses to provide testimony. The defendants were not given the opportunity to challenge the evidence presented against them, cross-examine the chief of police and even call witnesses. The three are currently serving prison sentences in a prison 50km away from Malange city making it difficult for their families to visit.

The trial and imprisonment of Afonso, Antonio and Justino was clearly unfair, unjust and in clear violation of domestic and international law.

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Afonso S. Muatchipuculo (22), António J. Fernando (18) and Justino H. Valente (21) were released on 17 July. The three youth had been sentenced to seven months in prison by the Malange Provincial Court in Angola on 9 April after an unfair trial. They were arrested on 4 April by the police in Malange province in Angola for allegedly throwing stones at the Vice-President’s convoy during a demonstration.

Afonso S. Muatchipuculo (22), António J. Fernando (18) and Justino H. Valente (21) were released from a detention facility 50km away from Malange city on 17 July. This is after the Supreme Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that they were involved in throwing stones at the Vice-President’s convoy during a demonstration.

The three were arrested on 4 April at the market while on their way home. About 4km away from where they were, at the Malange City Pavilion, the Vice-President’s convoy was met by over 100 protestors demanding the removal of the Malange Provincial Governor upon arrival at the Pavillion. The police chief claimed to have identified them as being among the protestors who threw stones at the Vice-President’s convoy by the colour of their shirts.

They were tried and sentenced to seven months in prison on 9 April in an unfair trial without a lawyer present. The prosecution did not produce any witnesses to provide testimony. The defendants were not given the opportunity to challenge the evidence presented against them, cross-examine the chief of police and even call witnesses.

Helena Mutaleno da Silva, Justino’s sister, thanked Amnesty International, among others, for campaigning for the release of the three youth.

Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.

This is the first update of UA 115/18. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr12/8534/2018/en/

Further information on UA: 115/18 Index: AFR 12/8920/2018 Issue Date: 13 August 2018