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Reuters
BARCELONA — A Spanish judge ruled that former Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos died of natural causes in Barcelona in July, dismissed foul play, and ordered the release and repatriation of his body. the court said Wednesday.
The law firm of Carmen Varela and Morrins, who represent Dos Santos' daughter Chize dos Santos, has fully dismissed the "suspicious circumstances" of his death without providing any evidence. demanded an autopsy and asked for his body to be buried. in Barcelona.
The companies argued that the judge did not have the power to decide the case because of separate legal proceedings relating to the death of Dos Santos. said he would appeal.
A spokesman for Catalonia's district court system said the repatriation process would only be suspended if the judge accepted the appeal, and it was unclear how long it would take to process the appeal. added.
Dos his Santos, who resigned five years ago, died in a Barcelona clinic on 8 July at the age of 79. He was being treated for a lingering illness.
The final report of the autopsy ruled that Dos Santos died of natural causes, caused primarily by respiratory problems, according to a court ruling.
28} It also said that dos Santos had not indicated a desired burial place in his will, citing similar precedents, and handed over the body to his widow, Ana Paula Cristobao dos Santos, for her repatriation.Chize and her lawyers argued that rather than the remains of Dos Santos being returned to Angola for a state funeral. He claims he wanted to be buried in Barcelona. May be used for political purposes.
Though hand-picked by Dos Santos, Lourenço moved swiftly to investigate allegations of multi-billion dollar corruption during his former presidency, often involving the Dos Santos family.Dos Santos did not specifically respond to allegations that it allowed corruption to thrive. (Reporting by Joan Faus; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Alex Richardson)
