The charges relate to a story Marques, 46, wrote in 2016 about the country’s former attorney-general’s purchase of rural land designated for urban development.

A court in Luanda postponed the case indefinitely, de Morais’s lawyer Horacio Junjuvili said.

De Morais was charged with insulting public authority after alleging that the attorney-general exploited the country’s weak land rights laws by paying the price of rural land for what would later become prime beachfront real estate.

“They are grappling with it. They are not accusing him under the media laws, but with a criminal charge against state security,” said a source close to the defense’s side.

The story also accused former president José Eduardo dos Santos of effectively protecting corrupt individuals because he did not take action to stop graft.

It has been suggested that for a successful prosecution, senior former regime officials, possibly including dos Santos, could be required to disprove de Morais’ claims in open court.

In September, President João Lourenço succeeded dos Santos, who had ruled the country with an iron fist for 38 years.

De Morais was convicted in 2015 of defaming military generals in a book he wrote and was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence.

He has also documented human rights abuses in Angola and campaigned for greater official transparency and accountability.