The ex-chief of staff of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been jailed 20 years by a high court.
Vital Kamerhe was found guilty of embezzling $48 million in public funds and sentenced 20 years with hard labour by the court.
“The court has established as fact the offence of embezzlement of public funds relating to the amount of $48,831,148,” Presiding judge Pierrot Bankenge Mvita said in his judgement.
Vital Kamerhe was arrested in April this year after being subjected to hours of questioning in the capital, Kinshasa.
Shortly after his arrest and questioning, Kamerhe was sent to the Kinshasa’s main prison, the Makala prison.
He was accused of playing a role in corrupt deals related to some infrastructure projects during the first three months of President Félix Tshisekedi’s term.
Kamerhe however denied the charges claiming the trial was political. His lawyer, Jean Marie Kabengela Ilunga, called the verdict a “violation of human rights” as he prepares to appeal it.
This year another high profile official, a former health minister was also jailed for five years for stealing more than $400,000 of funds meant to fight the Ebola epidemic.
Oly Ilunga was arrested last year by the Police for allegedly mismanaging funds allocated for the fight against Ebola.
Although Oly Ilunga denied any wrongdoing he resigned as health minister and criticized the World Health Organisation in his resignation letter.
Ex-DR Congo health minister jailed for stealing ‘Ebola cash’
Source: Africafeeds.com
