DRC: opening of the trial of former presidential adviser Tshimanga for "corruption"

Screen capture of the video of the newspaper "Le Temps" showing Vidiye Tshimanga, at the heart of the case.

© YouTube / Le Temps

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The former strategic adviser to President Félix Tshisekedi Vidiye Tshimanga is tried on Monday, November 14 by the Kinshasa-Gombe Peace Court.

Placed in detention on September 21, 2022 in Makala prison and then released a week later, he has been in turmoil since the broadcast in September of a video where we see him offering access to the mines in exchange for a commission: the prosecution suspects him of " 

passive corruption

 " and " 

influence peddling

 ".

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Pascal Mulegwa

At the end of September, those close to Vidiye Tshimanga thought he was off the hook after

his release on bail

.

But the prosecutor took his time: In particular, he sent several requests for information to business circles before setting the case before the court, a month later.

The prosecutor holds against the former Congolese President's strategist " 

passive corruption

 " for presenting himself as an actor to the alleged investors.

The man had

asked for a commission against access to the country's mines

.

In fact, he proposed to create a company with them and in which he would hold a participation disguised by nominees.

The prosecutor also accuses him of “ 

influence peddling

 ”: the adviser boasted of his closeness to the president.

And for exposing the personality of Félix Tshisekedi, he was held against him for the offense of "offending 

the head of state

 ".

In total, three grievances for which his lawyers say they have substantial means of defense - one of them already said to contest the offense of corruption.

For him, a beginning of reflection, without commission of the offense, cannot give rise to legal proceedings.

 To read also: 

DRC: the ex-director of the electricity company arrested on suspicion of corruption

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  • Justice

  • Felix Tshisekedi