On Tuesday 02 September in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Court of Cassation finally ruled on the case concerning the alleged misappropriation of more than 19 million US dollars, funds intended for the construction of a prison in Kisangani, in the province of Tshopo, by the former Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Constant Mutamba.

After pleadings from both sides (the prosecution and counsel), Constant Mutamba, the former Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals and defendant in the case, was sentenced to three years’ hard labor.

In addition to this prison sentence, Constant Mutamba was also sentenced to five years’ ineligibility and barred from holding public office after serving his sentence.

Constant Mutamba was taken to the Court of Cassation in an armored vehicle belonging to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to avoid any slip-up by activists who wanted to accompany this former member of the Suminwa government to his sentencing day.

This verdict comes six days after it was postponed in extremis on Wednesday 27 August. The court gave organizational reasons for the postponement in this tense case.

While some congratulated the courts on this conviction, others said that the entire sum was in the bank and could therefore be returned to the public purse, while other political players had stolen larger sums but were still protected by the system.

After the verdict, Constant Mutamba was taken to the Kinshasa provincial police station, where he spent the night. It is planned that he will serve his sentence in a luxury flat in the “villa la promenade”, where he will spend his years under house arrest, as his safety is not guaranteed in prison, given that he brought several people there when he was in power.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma