Congo Hold-Up: the lawyers of former President Joseph Kabila react
Kabila's lawyer questions the findings of the consortium's investigation into the embezzlement of more than $ 138 million in public money (photo illustration).
AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In a press briefing organized Thursday, December 23 in Kinshasa, the lawyers of former President Joseph Kabila rejected, under the leadership of Me Raphaël Nyabirungu, all the assertions contained in the investigation disseminated by the consortium comprising journalists from several editorial offices including RFI.
Mr. Kabila, now a life senator in the DRC, reserves the right to take legal action in his country and abroad.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Kamanda Wa Kamanda Muzembe
"
There are so many imprecise things that it can only be considered as slander
", declared Me Raphaël Nyabirungu Mwene Songa from the outset.
The lawyer for the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo questions the conclusions of the investigation carried out by the consortium into the embezzlement of more than 138 million dollars of public money.
“
It's easy to blame someone for embezzling $ 138 million while they have left $ 2 billion in foreign exchange reserves available to you.
Why didn't he take them?
"
►Congo Hold-up: A collaborative investigation into the embezzlement of public funds in the DRC
Me Raphaël Nyabirungu Mwene Songa also takes issue with the investigation carried out for months on the basis of the largest banking data breach in African history.
“
Do you really think these journalists had 3.5 million documents
?” He
asks.
What if they did have them, do you think they read them?
How many years would it take if you even read ten a day?
Calculate a little!
"
Professor Nyabirungu concludes by repeating that it is pure and simple slander and affirms that Joseph Kabila has three groups of lawyers in the DRC, in southern Africa and in Europe to defend his interests.
►Read also: After the Congo Hold-up revelations, civil society calls for a judicial follow-up
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