The Constitutional Court has set the date for the third public hearing of the Bukanga Lonzo Agro-industrial Park case. This case involves Deogratias Mutombo, former governor of the BCC, and Christo Grobler, South African businessman. They are summoned jointly to respond to accusations of embezzlement of public funds intended for the park project.
According to information provided by the Principal Registrar, Théophile Sasa Nianga, the hearing will take place on Monday September 25 at 1 p.m. The accused are notably suspected of having embezzled 205 million US dollars out of the 285 million disbursed by the Public Treasury for the completion of the project. Matata Ponyo, former Prime Minister, is also involved in this affair.
Matata Ponyo and Deogratias Mutombo are accused of having embezzled 89 million dollars allocated to the construction of the Kinshasa international market. These accusations of embezzlement of public funds were brought against the accused during the first hearing.
The decision to schedule this third hearing follows a request from the defense of the various parties for more time to gather the evidence necessary for their defense. This request was accepted by the President of the Constitutional Court, Dieudonné Kamuleta, during the second hearing of the case.
It should be noted that the presence of the legal file is a prerequisite for a fair trial according to defense lawyers. They deplored the fact that they had not received the necessary authorizations to have access to the file before the previous hearings.
This affair therefore attracts the attention of many observers, because it highlights alleged acts of embezzlement of public funds committed by influential figures in the country. Holding this third hearing will make it possible to evaluate the evidence presented and determine the follow-up to be given to this case.
It is important to emphasize that the Constitutional Court, sitting in repressive matters, plays a central role in the Congolese judicial system by guaranteeing respect for the Constitution and ensuring the protection of the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens.