Isabel dos Santos: From Africa’s richest woman to ‘dirty money’ probe

Dos Santos is facing sanctions and investigations in Angola, the UK, the US and Portugal. Isabel dos Santos, once celebrated as Africa’s first female billionaire but last month referred to by the United Kingdom government as a “notorious kleptocrat”, has lashed out against international corruption investigations and sanctions against her. Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s former president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, told the UK’s BBC this week that sanctions imposed last month by the UK were part of a “politically motivated” plot by Angola’s government against her and her family. Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto later claimed responsibility for the Luanda Leaks, saying he had handed over a hard drive “containing all data related to the recent revelations concerning Ms Isabel dos Santos’s fortune”. A UK government statement issued last month said dos Santos had “systematically abused her positions at state-run companies to embezzle at least £350m, depriving Angola of resources and funding for much-needed development”.