“Attempted coup in Kinshasa: Pastor disputes identity of defendant during trial”
As part of the trial of the alleged attackers of the failed coup attempt that occurred on May 19 in Kinshasa, an unexpected twist took place during the public hearing on Friday, June 14. Pastor André Bokundoa, president of the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), as well as former minister Omer Egwake, strongly contested the identity of two defendants presenting themselves as their sons.
At the heart of this affair, a defendant named Bokundoa Bolikabé initially claimed to be the son of Pastor Bokundoa. However, during this hearing, the pastor and his lawyers questioned this parentage, revealing that the defendant’s real name was in reality “Kazadi Nawej David Trésor”. This revelation caused confusion in the courtroom, calling into question the very identity of the defendant.
Faced with this unprecedented situation, the judges demanded explanations on the true identity of the defendant, even presenting a document from the Academy of Fine Arts indicating his name as Kazadi. For its part, the public prosecutor stressed that the defendant had in his possession several different identity documents, thus casting doubt on his real identity.
In an attempt to clarify, the defendant declared: “I was born Kazadi Nawej David Trésor. I gave myself the name Bokundoa after learning from my mother that he was my father.” This statement was met with skepticism from the civil party’s lawyers, who accused the defendant of tampering with the court.
Similarly, former minister Omer Egwake disputed the alleged affiliation with another defendant presenting himself as his son, asserting that he was in reality his adoptive father. This confusion around family ties further complicated the course of the trial.
In conclusion, this case has highlighted disturbing elements concerning the identity of the defendants, calling into question the truth and transparency in this case of attempted coup d’état. The trial continues with new revelations and twists to come, suggesting an uncertain outcome regarding the guilt of the accused in this high-profile case.”