Former Democratic Republic of Congo Justice Minister Constant Mutamba could spend the next decade behind bars if convicted of embezzling nearly $20 million meant for a new prison in Kisangani. During closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutors accused the former presidential candidate of trying to divert funds from a government contract for the prison’s construction. They requested a sentence of 10 years of hard labour, along with a 10-year ban on Mutamba’s right to vote or run for office.
Mutamba’s defence team rejected the allegations, insisting no money was stolen and arguing that the entire payment process was transparent. They pointed to evidence that Mutamba had copied the General Inspectorate of Finance and other oversight bodies on correspondence to monitor the transfer of funds to the construction company — a move they say proves his good faith. The 2023 presidential hopeful, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and introduced several judicial reforms during his tenure, has long been a critic of the country’s justice system. His outspoken stance has reportedly put him at odds with senior magistrates.
The high-profile case has sparked political debate in Kinshasa, with supporters framing it as a politically motivated trial, while critics say it underscores persistent corruption risks in DR Congo’s public works projects. A verdict is expected on 27 August.
