On Friday, May 26, the High Military Court sitting at the Ndolo military prison examined the request for provisional release made by Edouard Mwangachuchu’s lawyers for health reasons. The officer of the Public Ministry expressed his concern at this request, wondering about the guarantee that Congolese justice would have as to what the defendant would return each time he was called upon to do so.
The lawyers said their client had medical appointments in Kinshasa and abroad, including Dubai, South Africa, Belgium and the United States. Mwangachuchu underwent surgery for lower back pain and is due to undergo further treatment for health issues being handled by CMK Hospital.
However, the Public Prosecutor pointed out that the law does not provide for provisional release on medical grounds. If the care of the defendant is not adapted to the prison, it is the prison administration which makes arrangements to evacuate him to the nearest medical center, under the custody of the judicial authority.
Mwangachuchu and his co-defendant are suspected of having links with the M23 rebels. They face charges of treason, participation in an insurrectionary movement and illegal possession of weapons of war. The proceedings were initiated after weapons of war were discovered in the residence of Edouard Mwangachuchu in Kinshasa and in the premises of his company in Masisi.
Case adjourned to June 3 to accommodate Mwangachuchu’s request