By ARNALDO VIEIRA

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Angola's former Transport minister Augusto da Silva Tomás is being held in custody awaiting corruption allegations charges in court.

Mr Tomás is confined at the São Paulo prison in the capital Luanda, following his arrest on Friday.

The former minister held several top positions under President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and was sacked last June by President João Lourenço.

Mr dos Santos appointed him the Transport minister after he served as the secretary of the state-owned business sector.

Mr Tomás also served as Finance minister (1995-1996), Cabinda Province governor (1991-1995), Industry and Commerce deputy minister (1990-1991) and Industry deputy minister (1989-1991).

Close associates

President Lourenço took over from Mr dos Santos last August, following an election marking the end of a 38-year reign.

He has fought against corruption and sacked several close associates of his predecessor.

The victims of his purge include Ms Isabel dos Santos, the first daughter of his predecessor, who lost her position as the director of Sonangol, the state-owned oil company. Her half-brother, Mr José Filomeno dos Santos (Zenu), also lost his leadership of Angola's sovereign wealth fund.

Ms Isabel dos Santos faces several graft investigations while Filomeno is charged with misappropriating public funds.

The ruling party

Angolan prosecutors last Wednesday dropped corruption charges against a former army chief of staff Gen Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, who was sacked by President Lourenço in April .

The Supreme Court said the charges against Gen Nunda were dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Eight other accused, including a spokesperson for the ruling party, four Thai nationals, a Canadian and an Eritrean national were placed under house arrest in connection with a $50 billion fraud.

Their trials are expected to begin before the end of the month.