Title: “The lawyers denounce the violation of the rights of the defense in the case of the assassination of Chérubin Okende”
Introduction :
The affair of the assassination of Chérubin Okende, Congolese deputy and opponent, continues to arouse reactions and concerns. The lawyers of commissioner Nico Kabunda Ntambi and of Papy Ngaka, bodyguard and driver of Chérubin Okende, strongly denounce the violation of the rights of defense in the current proceedings. They claim that they have not been authorized to contact their clients since the beginning of the pre-judicial investigation carried out at the Provincial Police Station in the City of Kinshasa.
Violation of the rights of defence:
According to the collective of lawyers, no authorization has been granted to them to speak with their clients since July 14, 2023. All their requests have been systematically rejected by the commission responsible for the preparatory investigation. This situation is a serious violation of the fundamental rights of suspects, but also an attack on the very principle of fair justice and the right to defence.
Request for guarantee of constitutional rights:
Faced with this worrying situation, the lawyers sent an urgent request to the General Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation. They request an intervention on his part to instruct the members of the commission to allow them to enter into contact with their clients and to assist them in accordance with the constitutional provisions in force.
Background of the case:
Recall that the suspects, Nico Kabunda Ntambi and Papy Ngaka, are in detention and are being questioned as part of the investigation into the assassination of Chérubin Okende. The latter was kidnapped on July 12 before his body was found in his car the next morning in Kinshasa. The case aroused strong emotion within the Congolese population and was widely publicized.
Conclusion :
The violation of defense rights is a major concern in any judicial process. In the case of the assassination of Chérubin Okende, the lawyers firmly denounce this violation and demand guarantees for the exercise of the rights of the defence. We hope that their requests will be taken into account and that a fair trial can be ensured for all the protagonists of this tragic affair