Chief Of Staff Bags 20-Year Jail Term For ‘Embezzling’ $48 Million In Congo

A chief of staff in Democratic Republic of Congo, Vital Kamerhe has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for embezzling about $48million, the funds according to report is public funds.

READ ALSO:  Former President Of Republic Of Congo, Jacques Joachim Dies Of Coronavirus
Chief Of Staff Bags 20-Year Jail Term For ‘Embezzling’ $48 Million In Congo
Vital Kamerhe

Vital Kamerhe, Chief of Staff to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for embezzling public funds to the tune of about $48,000,000.

DRC’s high court judge, Pierrot Bankenge Mvita, passed the verdict on Saturday.

According to the judge, the public officer was guilty of gross financial misappropriation.

“The court has established as fact the offence of embezzlement of public funds relating to the amount of $48,831,148,” the judgement read.

But the CoS’s lawyer, Jean Marie Kabengela Ilunga, said he would appeal the judgement, adding that the ruling was a “violation of human rights.”

According to Reuters, Kamerhe denies stealing money earmarked for social housing under President Felix Tshisekedi’s flagship 100-day building programme, and has dismissed the accusations as political.

If the judgment is not overturned by a higher court, the CoS (who has been vying for the presidential seat) will not contest for any political office for ten years, after serving his jail term.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

x