Investigation underway after two deaths in the N’Djili prosecution cell
An investigation has been launched to shed light on the death of two people last week in the dungeon of the prosecution of the N’Djili peace court in Kinshasa. Judicial authorities convened an inspection of the prosecution and the Kinkole Children’s Court to elucidate the reasons for the deaths.
The victims were a minor child imprisoned for “rape on his grandmother” and an adult whose cause of death is not yet known. According to our source, the police in charge of transferring them to the hospital had been alerted to their deaths before they arrived at the hospital. Note that this event is not isolated since the same prosecution had recorded another case of death, some time ago, in the same circumstances.
The law on the protection of the child requires that the child be properly treated and fed, and in the event of a breach, must be returned to his parents or be placed in an assistance home. The situation in this amigo remains worrying and several sources indicate that the conditions of detention are not good.
The death of these two people is a reminder of the urgency of the need for in-depth reform of the Congolese judicial system. With a difficult socio-economic situation and growing insecurity in Kinshasa, the judicial authorities must take concrete measures to guarantee respect for human rights and the protection of citizens.