2023-07-08
Édouard Mwangachuchu trial: The lawyers withdraw from the hearing, the High Military Court returns the case
As part of the case between the Auditor General Édouard Mwangachuchu and Robert Mushamalirwa, the High Military Court continued its investigation this Friday, July 07 at the Ndolo military prison. However, Mwangachuchu’s lawyers decided to withdraw from the hearing, while those of Mushamalirwa did not show up.
As the High Court was due to review the QR codes and IDs contained in the documents of the covid tests carried out by Mwangachuchu during his stay in Rwanda, the defense asked for a two-week postponement so that their client could receive health care. appropriate. However, the Court refused this request, which led the lawyers to withdraw from the hearing denouncing the lack of humanity of the Court towards their sick client.
The High Military Court recalled that the decision to transfer a detainee to a hospital center falls within the competence of the prison administration and not of a court. The prosecution also criticized the withdrawal of Mwangachuchu’s lawyers, pointing out that if the accused party does not have lawyers at the next hearing, the Court will appoint lawyers to assist him ex officio.
Due to the lawyers’ withdrawal, the High Military Court adjourned the case to the following Tuesday.
Édouard Mwangachuchu and Robert Mushamalirwa are accused of having links with the M23 rebels. They face charges of treason, participation in an insurrectionary movement, espionage and illegal possession of weapons of war. These accusations follow the discovery of weapons in the residence of Mwangachuchu in Kinshasa and in the premises of his company SMB in Masisi, North Kivu.
Editor’s Note: Please note that this article is news-driven writing and does not necessarily reflect actual events