DR Congo's former health minister cleared of covid funds fraud
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Loading... - Grace Poku
- 13 Jun 2023
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In 2021, a previous Minister of Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faced legal action and a brief period of detention over allegations of misappropriating funds designated for the battle against Covid-19. However, the Congolese justice system has recently declared the former minister innocent, as announced by his legal representative.
Eteni Longondo, who served as the Minister of Health from 2019 to 2021, was suspected by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) of embezzling over $7 million that was intended for combating the pandemic.
Mr. Longondo, who spent approximately three weeks in pre-trial custody between August and September 2021, consistently refuted the accusations of misappropriation. "Today, the Court of Cassation acquitted him after concluding that there was insufficient evidence to incriminate him," stated Hugues Pulusi Eka, the lawyer representing Mr. Longondo, in an interview with AFP.
In the DRC, the Court of Cassation holds the authority to pass judgment as the first and final instance, particularly in cases involving government officials.
Regarding the suspicions that initially instigated legal proceedings against the former minister, Pulusi remarked that "the IGF functions as a judicial police officer, not as a judge." The lawyer added, "The most important aspect is that justice has made its decision."
