The former Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eteni Longondo, has been cleared by the courts in the case of embezzlement of funds allocated to the response to Covid-19. The Court of Cassation confirmed the veracity of the facts by indicating that the former minister had never embezzled the millions in question. His lawyer, Me Hugues Pulusi, considered that the court decision demonstrated the responsibility of his client, a serious and conscientious man.
In August 2020, an investigation by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) suspected Eteni Longondo of having embezzled more than 7 million dollars intended for the fight against the pandemic. This investigation had revealed a management characterized by the “absence of documentary evidence of expenditure” made.
The former deputy secretary general in charge of finances of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the ruling party in the DRC, has always denied having participated in the misuse of funds. He also referred to the expense vouchers as a “verification process” at the time of the audit.
The Court of Auditors had therefore ordered Eteni Longondo to return a sum estimated at 277,548 USD, corresponding to payments incurred for which reimbursement to the treasury was required. This decision had led to his provisional arrest warrant and his detention in Makala central prison at the end of August 2020. He was finally granted provisional release on September 15, 2021.
Despite this court decision, the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) maintains its commitment to fight against corruption and the embezzlement of public funds in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)