Edouard Mwangachuchu Hizi case: revelations about the controversial payment of police officers to the Bisunzu Mining Company
The High Military Court is continuing the hearings of the informants of the case between the Auditor General and national deputy Édouard Mwangachuchu Hizi, in a mobile hearing at the Ndolo Military Prison.
General Aban Van, Provincial Commissioner of Police in North Kivu (2020 to the present) and Colonel Van Kasongo, Deputy Provincial Commissioner in charge of Intelligence and Operations were heard concerning the police officers assigned to guard the Mining Company of Bisunzu (SMB), their payment and the security contract signed with said company.
In their testimony, the two informants affirmed that 86 elements of the police were deployed on the Bibatama site at the SMB. But the various security contracts signed between the police and the SMB only recognize 43 elements that were recognized and paid for by the said company.
Asked about the difference in payment between the 43 recognized police officers and the 43 others, General Aban Van replied that the fund paid to the DGRAD for this service only covered the 43 recognized officers. He added that the two teams of 43 took turns, but the company only paid out the money from one team.
The Court also questioned the general on the reason for the presence of the police officers within the SMB recruited clandestinely, infiltrated to be legalized later. “I had no information and it is up to the public prosecutor to prove the existence of the fictitious or irregular police officers whose existence I do not know,” he said.
This case is linked to accusations of participation in an insurrectionary movement, maintenance of links with the M23 rebels, espionage, incitement of soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline and illegal possession of munitions of war