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Britain Targets Graft: Isabela dos Santos and Other Global Elites Sanctioned in Anti-Corruption Drive

Published November 23, 2024
2 months ago

In a notable step up in its anticorruption efforts, the British government has imposed stringent sanctions on several high-profile international figures, including Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, signaling a robust approach against what it terms as "dirty money." This initiative aligns with commitments made by the Labour government during the July elections, reflecting a decisive shift towards tightening Britain's anticorruption sanctions regime.





Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed the sanctions last Thursday, emphasizing the new government's resolve to confront kleptocracy and illicit financial flows. The sanctioned individuals, accused of depriving social systems of vital funds for self-enrichment, now face asset freezes and travel bans within the UK.


Isabel dos Santos, often described as Africa’s richest woman, has been a controversial figure, implicated in numerous corruption allegations linked primarily to her positions at the Angolan state oil firm Sonangol and telecom company Unitel. According to British authorities, dos Santos supposedly embezzled over £350 million. Her legal woes intensified with the recent denial of her appeal to unfreeze £580 million of her assets by London’s High Court, coupled with an active Interpol red notice.


In her defense, dos Santos has refuted the allegations, citing them as part of a prolonged political persecution, and expressed intentions to appeal against the recent UK sanctions, which she branded “incorrect and unjustified”.


Simultaneously, Ukrainian mogul Dmytro Firtash faces sanctions for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of roughly $500 million related to Ukraine’s gas transit operations and holding substantial ill-gotten gains in the British real estate market. The UK government has also targeted Firtash's wife, Lada Firtash, accusing her of harboring assets, including notable property locations like the old Brompton Road underground railway station in London.


Apart from these high-profile names, other figures such as Latvian businessman and politician Aivars Lembergs and his daughter Liga Lemberga were sanctioned. Lembergs, previously sanctioned by the US in 2019, reportedly used his political influence to engage in bribery and money laundering.


Britain's multi-pronged offensive against corruption involves action against eight individuals in total, indicating the government's focus not just on direct perpetrators but also on their networks and beneficiaries.


This crackdown is part of a larger British strategy to enhance international financial accountability and transparency. By tackling these economic discrepancies, the UK aims to foster a more equitable global economic environment and reinstill public trust in its financial systems.


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