DRC: Félix Tshisekedi's former chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe, acquitted on appeal

Vital Kamerhe, here in Geneva in 2018. © AFP - FABRICE COFFRINI

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Vital Kamerhe, former chief of staff to President Félix Tshisekedi sentenced in 2020 to 20 years of forced labor for embezzlement of nearly $60 million as part of the Head of State's emergency program, was acquitted on appeal.

The case had gone to cassation, which had returned the file.

His co-defendant, Lebanese businessman Sanoh Jammal is also acquitted.

The Kinshasa-Gombe Court of Appeal justifies its judgment by the lack of evidence.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

At first and second degree, the prosecutor and the civil parties had substantiated the offenses of embezzlement and corruption by a series of isolated acts.

Both camps also relied on the enrichment of certain members of the Kamerhe family.

The appeal judges today say that there is no material evidence to date and clear the former right-hand man of the president of all charges.

The verdict did not surprise in political circles, where relaxation has been in order since the end of 2021.

The judges of the Court of Cassation had first granted provisional release to Vital Kamerhe, motivating their decision by "

" of the concerned.

In April, the same court overturned confirmation of the conviction by the Kinshasa

-Gombe

The Court of Cassation had found that the appeal judge had violated the rights of the defense when the case was not in a state to be judged.

The file was sent back to new judges who have therefore just annulled the previous judgment in all its provisions.

For Me Hugues Pulusi, lawyer for Vital Kamerhe, "

".

It remains to be seen whether the prosecutor will not attempt a new appeal in cassation, but this acquittal allows Vital Kamerhe to return to the political arena at the dawn of the elections.

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