THE ENABLERS
Western advisers helped an autocrat’s daughter amass and shield a fortune
Isabel dos Santos created a shell empire to move tainted billions — lawyers, accountants and consultants made it possible.
Luanda Leaks
How two decades of corrupt deals made Isabel dos Santos Africa’s wealthiest woman and left oil- and diamond-rich Angola one of the world’s poorest countries. Read more.
In this investigation
EXPLAINER
From Colonization to Kleptocracy: A history of Angola
Our visual explainer shows you how Africa’s richest woman rose amid a country divided by war and rich in natural resources.
By Antonio Cucho Gamboa | January 16, 2020
VIDEO
Watch: Luanda Leaks is a ‘global story’
Isabel dos Santos claims her success is self-made. Luanda Leaks, an investigation by the ICIJ and 36 media partners, reveals the true origins of her fortune.
By Scilla Alecci | January 19, 2020
WHISTLEBLOWERS
Whistleblower Rui Pinto given four-year suspended sentence in Football Leaks trial amid ongoing legal woes
WHISTLEBLOWERS
Luanda Leaks whistleblower Rui Pinto faces fresh charges but may benefit from amnesty reforms timed to coincide with papal visit
Africa
Director ‘mismanagement’ enabled Isabel dos Santos to illegally divert millions, Dutch court finds
IMPACT
Police search PwC, Boston Consulting Group offices in Angolan corruption probe against Isabel dos Santos
IMPACT
International arrest warrant issued for Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos
OFFSHORE SECRECY
Web of corruption around Isabel dos Santos still being untangled two years after Luanda Leaks
LUANDA LEAKS
US sanctions Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos for corruption
IMPACT
German state-owned bank fined for Angolan loan exposed in Luanda Leaks
LUANDA LEAKS
Isabel dos Santos ordered to return to Angola $500 million in shares ‘tainted by illegality’
AWARDS
Lessons from award-winning FinCEN Files and Luanda Leaks investigations
LUANDA LEAKS
Dutch court sides with report calling dos Santos-linked energy deal an ‘act of corruption’
MONEY LAUNDERING
Watch: SXSW panel discusses money laundering, inequality and ‘enablers of misery’
MIDDLE EAST
Facing global pressure, the United Arab Emirates to begin fining violators of new corporate transparency rules
LUANDA LEAKS
Isabel dos Santos’ Maltese consulting firm served with $230,000 tax bill
LUANDA LEAKS
Banking documents reveal consulting giants’ cash windfall under Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos
LUANDA LEAKS
Angola asks Dutch court to seize Isabel dos Santos-linked stake in energy firm
IMPACT
Unitel sues Isabel dos Santos company as her corporate empire continues to crumble
IMPACT
After Luanda Leaks, a billionaire’s empire falls, but her enablers carry on
LUANDA LEAKS
Portuguese regulator calls for criminal prosecution of auditors following Luanda Leaks
LUANDA LEAKS
Dutch court orders key business associate of Isabel dos Santos removed pending investigation
LUANDA LEAKS
Dutch launch criminal probe, freeze assets of Isabel dos Santos-linked firm
Africa
Switzerland freezes Angolan tycoon’s $900 million fortune
LUANDA LEAKS
Sonaecom ditches partnership with dos Santos in Portuguese telco NOS
Impact
Luanda Leaks’ whistleblower is ‘new Snowden,’ claims lawyer after release
LUANDA LEAKS
Beleaguered billionaire dos Santos quits Unitel board
Impact
Angola claims victory in axed port deal signed with dos Santos company
Europe
European banking regulator to probe Luanda Leaks’ allegations
IMPACT
Court ties dos Santos to ‘fraudulent’ diamond deal as Portugal further freezes out billionaire
LUANDA LEAKS
Isabel dos Santos claims ‘justice denied’ after rejection of assets appeal
Impact
Isabel dos Santos blames asset freeze for Lisbon retreat and failure to pay staff
IMPACT
German police seize bank records in Luanda Leaks brewery probe
MONEY LAUNDERING
EU ‘dirty money’ action plan faces resistance, criticism
IMPACT
Isabel dos Santos condemns ‘abusive’ seizure of $442m stake
OFFSHORE SECRECY
What is a tax haven? Offshore finance, explained
IMPACT
Luanda Leaks sealed new Cape Verde banking law, minister says
IMPACT
Portuguese ‘super judge’ orders total seizure of dos Santos assets
Key findings
1
Two decades of unscrupulous deals made Isabel dos Santos Africa’s wealthiest woman and left oil- and diamond-rich Angola one of the poorest countries on Earth.
2
A web of more than 400 companies and subsidiaries in 41 countries are linked to Isabel dos Santos or her husband, Sindika Dokolo, including 94 in secrecy jurisdictions like Malta, Mauritius and Hong Kong.
3
Hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and contracts were directed to dos Santos' companies.
4
A cadre of Western business advisers moved money, set up companies, audited accounts, suggested ways to avoid taxes and turned a blind eye to red flags that experts say should have raised serious concern.
5
Two firms, PwC and Boston Consulting Group, together earned more than $5.6 million between 2010 and 2017 for services provided to dos Santos and Dokolo companies.
