The trial of Salomon Kalonda, special adviser to Moïse Katumbi, before the military court in Kinshasa has taken an unexpected turn. The judges have decided to postpone the continuation of the trial for a month, following requests from defense lawyers who claim to be surprised by new elements brought to the first hearing.
In the reading of the charges, the military justice accused Salomon Kalonda of treason for having delivered construction materials and equipment intended for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to third parties. In addition, he is also prosecuted for having maintained intelligence with a foreign power with a view to instigating hostilities or acts of aggression.
Salomon Kalonda’s defense is surprised that other charges, such as the possession of a weapon during an opposition demonstration in Kinshasa, are not mentioned in the composition of the trial. These new charges come as a surprise for the defense which claims not to have been informed of these facts before.
Salomon Kalonda, executive of the political party Ensemble pour la République, was arrested on May 30 at Ndjili International Airport in Kinshasa. After being detained at Military Intelligence for a few days, he was transferred to the military prison of Ndolo, in the commune of Barumbu, in Kinshasa.
The postponement of the trial will allow the defense to better prepare to face these new charges. However, this situation raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the judicial process. Defense lawyers stress the fact that these new charges have never been brought to their attention before, which calls into question the handling of the file by military justice.
It remains to be seen how this case will evolve in the coming months and if additional elements will be revealed during the trial. In the meantime, Salomon Kalonda will remain in detention, awaiting his next appointment with military justice