Angola: Further information: Court overturns conviction of three youth
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.
Further information on UA: 115/18 Index: AFR 12/8920/2018Angola Date: 13 August 2018
URGENT ACTION
COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF THREE YOUTH
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/
Name: Afonso S. Muatchipuculo, António J. Fernando and Justino H. Valente
Gender m/f: m
Further information on UA: 115/18 Index: AFR 12/8920/2018 Issue Date: 13 August 2018