KEY POINTS
- Late Sindika Dokolo was the husband to Africa’s richest woman Isabel dos Santos
- Isabel dos Santos is the eldest daughter of Angola’s former longtime ruler Jose Eduardo dos Santos
- The late Sindika Dokolo and his wife Isabel dos Santos are facing criminal charges in Angola
Dubai police have ruled out foul play in the death of Sindika Dokolo, the husband to Africa’s richest woman Isabel dos Santos who has an estimated new worth of Ksh 120 billion.
Dokolo’s death was announced by his family on Thursday October 29th, but they didn’t give any details explaining his demise.
The Dokolo family, his wife, children, mother, brother and sisters have the deepest sorrow and immense sadness to announce the passing of Sindika Dokolo,which occurred on October 29, 2020 in Dubai.We thank all who have expressed their sympathy and kindness and who share our grief pic.twitter.com/r5VgCt3P9V
— Sindika Dokolo (@sindika_dokolo) October 30, 2020
After days of speculations about his death, police in Dubai on Monday issued a statement confirming that the late Dokolo drowned while practicing free diving off the coast of Dubai.
Major General Khaled Ibrahim al-Mansouri, deputy commander-in-chief of criminal investigations in Dubai, said emergency services received a call on October 29 reporting a case of a person who had drowned.
“The incident happened seven nautical miles away, and accordingly, marine rescue teams were immediately dispatched to search for the man who was found deceased after performing a free dive,” Dubai police said in the statement.
Police ruled out any foul play following the release of forensic report and interview with family members and witnesses.
“Dubai Police investigated the circumstances of the death, and listened to statements of the deceased’s friends and reviewed the results of the forensic report, all of which concluded that there was no criminal suspicion behind the death,” said statement.
At the time of his death, Dokolo and his wife were under investigation by Angolan authorities who had frozen their bank accounts and business assets in 2019.
The Attorney General of Angola charged the deceased and his wife with money laundering and embezzlement of Ksh 100 billion that they allegedly owe to the country.
Dokolo was the son of Augustin Dokolo Sanu, a highly-influential Congolese banker during the era of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
