Prosecutors in the Democratic Republic of Congo have asked the Court of Cassation to sentence former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba to 15 years in prison with hard labour over alleged fraud involving about $20 million from a victims’ reparation fund.
Mutamba and his co-defendant, Chançard Bolukola, are accused of orchestrating the fraudulent disbursement of money awarded to the DRC as compensation for victims of Uganda’s military interventions and alleged illegal exploitation of natural resources between 1998 and 2003.
The funds were part of reparations awarded to the DRC by the International Court of Justice in 2022.
Prosecutors allege that instead of being paid to eligible victims, the money was diverted to companies and individuals who were not entitled to receive it.
Bolukola was responsible for managing the reparations awarded to the DRC under the ICJ ruling.
Mutamba, who is already serving a three-year prison sentence following a previous conviction for embezzlement of public funds, was not represented at the latest hearing.
The former minister has denied the allegations against him.
Lawyers representing Bolukola also rejected the prosecution’s case, arguing that it was based on unsubstantiated claims, speculation and conjecture.
The Court of Cassation is expected to deliver its ruling on September 2.
