The request for provisional release of Brigadier General Zelwa Katanga, also known as Djadjidja, has been rejected by the High Military Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This decision was made during the hearing held in Kinshasa last Thursday.
The High Military Court found the request admissible, but unfounded. According to article 45 paragraph 2 of the Congolese Code of Criminal Procedure, the means put forward by the defendant, such as his marital status and his known address, were not deemed sufficient to grant him provisional release. The seriousness of the charges against him, in particular his involvement in a criminal association and an assassination, motivated this decision.
Brigadier General Zelwa Katanga is being prosecuted in the case of the assassination of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya and his driver Fidèle Bazana Edadi, which occurred on June 2, 2010 in Kinshasa. Former deputy commander of the 3rd Defense Zone in charge of administration and logistics, he is now kept in preventive detention because of the persistence of the reasons which justified his arrest.
This decision of the High Military Court marks a will of the Congolese justice to fight against impunity and to guarantee the continuation of the Chebeya case. It also bears witness to the importance given to the preservation of public order and security in the country.
It is essential to emphasize that this case continues to attract public attention and interest, both in the DRC and internationally. The course of the judicial process and the decisions taken by the High Military Court will therefore be closely monitored, in the hope that light will be shed on this case and that justice will be done.
In conclusion, the rejection of Brigadier General Zelwa Katanga’s request for provisional release by the High Military Court of the DRC shows the determination of the Congolese authorities to fight against impunity and to prosecute those responsible for criminal acts. This case remains a symbol of the will of Congolese justice to shed light on human rights violations and to guarantee the safety of all citizens of the DRC