© REUTERS/Kenny Katombe
Joseph Kabila, then Congolese president, during a press conference, January 26, 2018, in Kinshasa. (Illustrative image)
In the DRC, the appeal trial of the assassination of Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana is playing extra time. Civil party lawyers refused to plead. They demanded the hearing of several personalities cited by the police officer Paul Mwilambwe, exiled for a time in Senegal and Belgium, is himself a key witness in this affair. His statements incriminate in particular the former president Kabila, the lawyers thus demanded that the latter be summoned to appear as a witness.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Commander Commander
Invited to speak first, the civil party lawyer coordinator raised an exception from the outset. Master Richard Bondo Tshimbombo called for the hearing of all personalities cited by the accused Paul Mwilambwe sued among others for desertion: “ The former President of the Republic, the generals, the colonels, the amrée officials that Mwilambwe cited, even the auditor general who is now retired, everyone must be heard.. »
In disagreement with this request, master Eley Lofele, lawyer for the Voix des Sans Voix, made a surprising plea. According to him, his colleagues from the same camp have other motivations: “ They have their goals! I cannot be responsible for the situations that may happen to the country or the disturbances on the eve of the elections! »
Immediate reaction from the executive director of Voix Sans Voix, Rostin Manketa, who disavowed Me Eley Lofele’s approach: ” We are awaiting the pleadings following hearing all the personalities who have been cited. »
For its part, the public prosecutor approved the process, requiring the appearance of the personalities cited by Mwilambwe, before closing the debates. The next hearing is set for January 19, for the response of the High Military Court.
