Indictment proceedings rejected against Godé Mpoy and Papy Epiana
In a decision rendered last Friday, the Kinshasa-Gombe Court of Appeal rejected the indictment procedure against Godé Mpoy and Papy Epiana, respectively president and quaestor of the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly. According to the Court, this procedure is flawed and deliberately violates the law by not allowing the accused to present their defense.
MP Jean Ngoy Mvuzi, representative of the plenary of the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly, reacted by maintaining that there was no violation of the law or the internal regulations of the legislative body. He argues that the accused were required to resign within 24 hours of the plenary voting to indict them. According to him, the Court of Appeal should have lifted their immunities to allow the procedure to take its course normally.
For their part, Godé Mpoy and Papy Epiana describe this procedure as a “vast joke” and denounce a flagrant violation of the law.
Recall that on October 7, the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly voted in favor of the indictment of Godé Mpoy and Papy Epiana, accusing them of alleged embezzlement of nearly 150 million USD, incompetence and mismanagement illustrated by a series of controversial decisions and abuses of power.
Despite the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Provincial Assembly maintains the plenary election of these two members of the Bureau for Tuesday, October 17, initially scheduled for this Saturday, October 14.
This affair highlights the political tensions and rivalries within the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly. The coming days will be decisive for the political future of Godé Mpoy and Papy Epiana, as well as for the stability of the institution. To be followed closely.