"100 days program in the DRC": the trial of Vital Kamerhe postponed to May 25

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In the DRC, the trial of Vital Kamerhe opened briefly this Monday, May 11, 2020. The chief of staff of President Félix Tshisekedi is suspected of having embezzled more than 50 million dollars within the framework of the "100 days program" launched by the head of state.

Publicity

With our correspondents in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi and Pascal Mulegwa

The hearing was therefore quickly adjourned, after about an hour, and the trial was postponed to May 25 for further investigation. The request was made by the lawyers for each accused. They insisted that they had not had access to every element of the file. But for the prosecution, the documents in the file were indeed available at the court registry. It was up to each party to refer to it.

During his speech, Vital Kamerhe declared to have intervened in this case as director of cabinet of the president of the Republic, he affirmed that they were nine supervisors of this program of 100 days, in addition to the coordinator of this program emergency. Vital Kamerhe exposed a trap and leading questions when asked to clarify his role and role in this program. "  We choose what will create confusion, nobody talks for example about free primary education,  " he said.

Asked about his two fellow prisoners , Vital Kamerhe said about the businessman Samih Jammal know him, but in what capacity? “  I have met many people in my life.  "And about the import-export manager of the presidency Jeannot Muhima, also co-accused:"  I know him by name, it is today that I meet him.  "

Dispersion of gatherings

Journalists were unable to enter the court when two television stations, which already had their authorization, were even starting to install their equipment for the live broadcast. After four hours of waiting, all those massed along the impressive fence of Makala prison, where the court is located, were chased away by the police, helped by the soldiers, sometimes brutally. An important police device therefore to prevent journalists from entering the precincts of the Gombe court, located in Makala prison, but also to avoid any gathering in front of the judicial precinct. No assembly was tolerated in the vicinity of the prison.

In the morning, dozens of supporters of UNC, Vital Kamerhe's party who were massed along the avenue housing the prison were dispersed by the police. She then made rounds to dissuade any attempt to demonstrate. No activist has been arrested yet, police said.

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