Angola VP Manuel Vicente 'to face Portugal corruption charges'

Portuguese state prosecutors are bringing corruption charges against Angola's vice-president Manuel Vicente. 

The attorney-general's office says Mr Vicente paid 810 thousand dollars in bribes to shut down corruption investigations that he was facing. 

The alleged bribes were made to Portugal's former public prosecutor Orlando Figueira, who also faces charges as part of Operation Fizz.

Mr Vicente's lawyer has denied the allegations.
 
Mr Vicente served as head of Angola's state oil company Sonangol from 1999 until 2012, a hugely influential position now occupied by the president's daughter, Isabel Dos Santos. 

Until news of the corruption scandal emerged last year, he had been strongly tipped as a potential successor to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled Angola since 1979.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS